Standard Lemma guide

reprove

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ɹɪˈpɹuːv/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -uːv
  • UK: /ɹiːˈpɹuːv/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To express disapproval.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: admonish, animadvert, bash, bawl out, slash, lash, blame, scorch, blast, berate, berisp, castigate, censure, charge, chastise, chew out, chide, condemn, criticize, denounce, denunciate, deprecate, derogate, dispraise, drag, dress down, eat someone alive, excoriate, find fault, fulminate, get at, get down, get up, give somebody a piece of one's mind, give somebody what-for, inveigh, lace into, lambaste, lay into, lecture, light into, objurgate, pooh-pooh, put someone on blast, rate, read somebody the riot act, rebuke, reprehend, reprimand, reproach, reprove, rip into, rubbish, savage, scold, skewer, slam, slate, tear into, tell off, threap, tick off, tosh, keelhaul, upbraid, vilify, vituperate

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To criticise, rebuke, or reprimand (someone), usually in a gentle and kind tone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To deny or reject (as a feeling, behaviour, action, etc.).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To prove again.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

take to task

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He admonished the child for his bad behavior

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: admonish

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: knock, criticize, criticise, pick apart

History

Etymology

From Middle English repreven, reproven, from Anglo-Norman reprover, Middle French reprouver, from Latin reprobāre. Doublet of reprobate.

From re- + prove.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: порицавам (poricavam) — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Finnish: moittia — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Finnish: paheksua — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • German: rügen — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • German: tadeln — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • German: maßregeln — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • German: zurechtweisen — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • German: mahnen — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • German: ermahnen — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Indonesian: mencela — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Irish: spreag — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Irish: ceartaigh — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Italian: disapprovare — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Italian: riprovare — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Korean: 꾸짖다 (kkujitda) — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Korean: 질책하다 (jilchaekhada) — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Romanian: mustra — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Romanian: certa — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Scottish Gaelic: càin — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Scottish Gaelic: cronaich — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Scottish Gaelic: troid — to convey one's disapproval of (something)
  • Bulgarian: мъмря (mǎmrja) — to rebuke
  • Bulgarian: укорявам (ukorjavam) — to rebuke
  • Czech: kárat — to rebuke
  • Czech: pokárat — to rebuke
  • Czech: plísnit — to rebuke
  • Czech: vyplísnit — to rebuke
  • Finnish: torua — to rebuke
  • Finnish: nuhdella — to rebuke