Adjacent Words

Reproof definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

REPROOF', n. [from reprove.
1. Blame expressed to the face; censure for a fault; reprehension.
Those best can bear reproof, who merit praise.
He that hateth reproof is brutish. Proverbs 12.
2. Blame cast; censure directed to a person.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to take the rebuke with a smile on his face" [syn: rebuke, reproof, reproval, reprehension, reprimand] v
1: censure severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car"; "The deputy ragged the Prime Minister"; "The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup" [syn: call on the carpet, take to task, rebuke, rag, trounce, reproof, lecture, reprimand, jaw, dress down, call down, scold, chide, berate, bawl out, remonstrate, chew out, chew up, have words, lambaste, lambast]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English repref, reprofe, from Anglo-French reproefe, from reprover Date: 14th century criticism for a fault ; rebuke

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. 1 blame (a glance of reproof). 2 a rebuke; words expressing blame. Etymology: ME f. OF reprove f. reprover REPROVE 2. v.tr. 1 render (a coat etc.) waterproof again. 2 make a fresh proof of (printed matter etc.).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Reproof Re*proof" (r?-pr??f"), n. [OE. reproef. See Proof, Reprove.] 1. Refutation; confutation; contradiction. [Obs.] 2. An expression of blame or censure; especially, blame expressed to the face; censure for a fault; chiding; reproach. Those best can bear reproof who merit praise. --Pope. Syn: Admonition; reprehension; chiding; reprimand; rebuke; censure; blame. See Admonition.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(reproofs) If you say or do something in reproof, you say or do it to show that you disapprove of what someone has done or said. (FORMAL) She raised her eyebrows in reproof. ...a reproof that she responded to right away. N-VAR

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Censure, condemnation, rebuke, admonition, chiding, reprimand, reprehension, reproach, animadversion, blame, reproval.

Moby Thesaurus

admonishment, admonition, castigation, chastisement, chiding, correction, lecture, lesson, objurgation, rap, rating, rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproach, reprobation, reproval, scolding, sermon, spanking, upbraiding, wig