admonish against

USAGE SUMMARY

'admonish against' is correct and usable in written English.
It means to caution or advise against doing something. For example, you could say, "The health inspector admonished against eating in the restaurant until it could be properly inspected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

So one afternoon last week, the Appraisal tried to find out what happens when one tries to park where the brass stands admonish against it.

The New York Times

We need to admonish against jumping illogically.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It admonishes against applying "illegitimate" to a child of unmarried parents.

The New York Times

They were constantly admonished against leaving behind so much as a pen or a roll of tape.

The New Yorker

He admonished against any instinct to point blame or to drift into political pettiness or to latch onto simple explanations that may have no merit.

Independent

One S.E.C. complaint contends that Freddie Mac executives falsely proclaimed that the company had virtually no exposure to ultra-risky loans, despite internal warnings admonishing against such claims.

The New York Times

Through his interpreter, a Mexican chambermaid, who has spent some time in Texas, he admonishes against too many ice-cold 'ighballs.

The New Yorker

Yet his statesmanship was essentially pacific, and he is best remembered for a deathbed address in which he described with many details the flourishing commercial state of Venice and admonished against military adventures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Discussing the constantly-documented cock-ups of Prevent officers, Dame Casey admonishes against "allowing only critical narratives to dominate in the media".

Vice

This particular bit of conventional wisdom ostensibly admonishes against overreaching, self-aggrandizing, expecting too much, or getting carried away with either ambition or entitlement.

Huffington Post

And, at the same time, with regard to having a distinctive story and destiny, they are admonished against thinking, "My strength and the might of my own arm have done all this for me".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "admonish against" when you want to convey a gentle but firm suggestion not to do something, often with a moral or ethical undertone.

Common error

Avoid using "admonish against" in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "warn against" or "advise against" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "admonish against" functions as a verb phrase, expressing a caution or gentle warning against a specific action or behavior. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "admonish against" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a mild warning or discouragement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct English. While not overly common, it is suitable for formal and professional contexts, often conveying an ethical or moral element. Alternatives like "warn against" or "advise against" can be used in more casual settings. The phrase appears across diverse authoritative sources, though less frequently overall, indicating its nuanced usage. The phrase's rarity suggests that more common phrases are preferred in everyday usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

warn against

This is a more general term, lacking the sense of gentle rebuke present in "admonish against".

caution against

This phrase focuses on potential dangers or negative consequences.

advise against

This is a neutral alternative, suitable for various contexts.

counsel against

This phrase has a more formal and considered tone.

discourage from

This phrase emphasizes preventing someone from taking a particular action.

urge not to

This suggests a strong recommendation against something.

dissuade from

This implies actively persuading someone not to do something.

reprove for

More direct and critical than "admonish against", suggesting fault-finding.

rebuke for

A stronger expression of disapproval and criticism.

exhort against

This suggests a passionate and persuasive discouragement.

FAQs

How can I use "admonish against" in a sentence?

You can use "admonish against" to gently warn someone against a course of action, as in, "The doctor "admonished against" excessive sugar intake."

What's a more formal synonym for "admonish against"?

A more formal synonym is "counsel against", which implies offering considered advice to deter a specific action.

Is it better to say "admonish against" or "warn against"?

"Warn against" is generally more direct and urgent, while "admonish against" carries a tone of gentle correction or moral guidance. Choose based on the context and intended emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "admonish against"?

It is suitable when giving a mild rebuke or cautioning someone about potential negative consequences, especially in situations involving ethics or propriety. For example, “The parent "admonished against" lying”.