English Synonyms and Antonyms

part of him who utters them; nor do reflection or reprehension, which are simply turning the mind back upon
what is disapproved. Reprehension is supposed to be calm and just, and with good intent; it is therefore a
serious matter, however mild, and is capable of great force, as expressed in the phrase severe reprehension.
Reflection is often from mere ill feeling, and is likely to be more personal and less impartial than
reprehension; we often speak of unkind or unjust reflections. Rebuke, literally a stopping of the mouth, is
administered to a forward or hasty person; reproof is administered to one intentionally or deliberately wrong;
both words imply authority in the reprover, and direct expression of disapproval to the face of the person
rebuked or reproved. Reprimand is official censure formally administered by a superior to one under his
command. Animadversion is censure of a high, authoritative, and somewhat formal kind. Rebuke may be
given at the outset, or in the midst of an action; animadversion, reflection, reprehension, reproof, always
follow the act; admonition is anticipatory, and meant to be preventive. Check is allied to rebuke, and given
before or during action; chiding is nearer to reproof, but with more of personal bitterness and less of authority.
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
250

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Compare CONDEMN; REPROVE.
Antonyms:
applause, approval, encomium, eulogy, panegyric, praise. approbation, commendation,
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REPROVE.
Synonyms:
admonish, condemn, reprimand, blame, expostulate with, reproach, censure, find fault with, take to task,
chasten, rebuke, upbraid, check, remonstrate with, warn. chide, reprehend,
To censure is to pronounce an adverse judgment that may or may not be expressed to the person censured; to
reprove is to censure authoritatively, openly, and directly to the face of the person reproved; to rebuke is to
reprove with sharpness, and often with abruptness, usually in the midst of some action or course of action
deemed censurable; to reprimand is to reprove officially; to blame is a familiar word signifying to pass
censure upon, make answerable, as for a fault; blame and censure apply either to persons or acts; reprove and
rebuke are applied chiefly, and reprimand exclusively to persons. To reproach is to censure openly and
vehemently, and with intense personal feeling as of grief or anger; as, to reproach one for ingratitude;
reproach knows no distinction of rank or character; a subject may reproach a king or a criminal judge. To
expostulate or remonstrate with is to mingle reasoning and appeal with censure in the hope of winning one
from his evil way, expostulate being the gentler, remonstrate the severer word. Admonish is the mildest of
reproving words, and may even be used of giving a caution or warning where no wrong is implied, or of
simply reminding of duty which might be forgotten. Censure, rebuke, and reprove apply to wrong that has
been done; warn and admonish refer to anticipated error or fault. When one is admonished because of wrong
already done, the view is still future, that he may not repeat or continue in the wrong. Compare CONDEMN;
REPROOF.
Antonyms:
abet, approve, countenance, impel, instigate, applaud, cheer, encourage, incite, urge on.
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REQUITE.
Synonyms:
avenge, punish, remunerate, revenge, compensate, quit, repay, reward, pay, reciprocate, retaliate, satisfy, pay
off, recompense, return, settle with.
To repay or to retaliate, to punish or to reward, may be to make some return very inadequate to the benefit or
injury received, or the right or wrong done; but to requite (according to its etymology) is to make so full and
adequate a return as to quit oneself of all obligation of favor or hostility, of punishment or reward. Requite is
often used in the more general sense of recompense or repay, but always with the suggestion, at least, of the
original idea of full equivalent; when one speaks of requiting kindness with ingratitude, the expression gains
force from the comparison of the actual with the proper and appropriate return. Compare PAY.
Antonyms:
Synonyms and Antonyms, by James Champlin Fernald
251

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absolve, excuse, forgive, overlook, pass over, acquit, forget, neglect, pardon, slight.
Preposition:
To requite injury with injury is human, but not Christian.
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REST.
Synonyms:
calm, pause, quietness, slumber, calmness, peace, quietude, stay, cessation, peacefulness, recreation, stillness,
ease, quiescence, repose, stop, intermission, quiet, sleep, tranquillity.