Meaning & use
reproof
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Meaning
nouncountable or uncountableformal
Words of disapproval spoken to someone to correct a fault in their behavior, usually in a controlled and serious way.
Grammar: Often uncountable after in or with: spoke in reproof; also countable: a gentle reproof.
Patterns
- a reproof for something
- in reproof
- a reproof from someone
The teacher's quiet reproof made the class fall silent.
He accepted the reproof without argument.
She raised an eyebrow in mild reproof when he arrived late.
Word forms
| plural | reproofs |
|---|
Common combinations
- a gentle reproof
- She gave him a gentle reproof about his careless words.
- a stern reproof
- The captain's stern reproof was heard by everyone.
- in reproof
- He shook his head in reproof.
- deserve a reproof
- His rudeness deserved a reproof.
- meet with reproof
- The proposal met with reproof from the board.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rebuke
- Rebuke is sharper and more openly angry than reproof.
- reprimand
- Reprimand suggests an official telling-off by someone in authority.
- scolding
- Scolding is informal and usually emotional, whereas reproof stays measured.
- criticism
- Criticism is a broad word that need not aim to correct behavior.
Opposites
Word family
- reprove verb
- to tell someone off in order to correct them
- reproving adjective
- expressing mild disapproval
- reprovingly adverb
- in a way that shows disapproval
Commonly confused: reproof or reprove?
reproof vs reprove
Reprove is the verb form; reproof is the noun, so you give a reproof but reprove a person.
Practice
Her father looked at her over his glasses in mild ___ after she interrupted the guest.
Choose one answer.
Reproof fits a look that signals gentle disapproval. Applause, reward and welcome are all positive and do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reproof”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.