exhort

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "exhort" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as a verb meaning to urge or encourage someone in a strong or forceful way. For example, you could use the sentence, "The teacher exhorted the students to work harder on their project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Every man has commission to admonish, exhort, convince another of error, and, by reasoning, to draw him into truth," Locke writes.

The Economist

As the mayhem continues, Europe and America can exhort, plead and affect to intervene (in both senses), but for the most part this is a sideshow.

The Economist

His job is to grease the wheels of trade negotiations, broker honestly between warring parties, and generally exhort WTO members to do better and try harder.

The Economist

Only then and this was the shocking twist would they understand that the surrender, which they had thought of as their nation's lowest hour, was in fact the moment of their liberation.Technically, von Weizsäcker was not the first to exhort the Germans to shift their perspective thus.

The Economist

Meanwhile, an almost unbroken stream of senior American visitors to Islamabad, recently including Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state, and Richard Holbrooke, America's regional envoy, exhort the Pakistanis to "do more" against the militants.Fat chance of that at least as far as the Afghan lot are concerned.

The Economist

First, the state will "nudge" rather than exhort people to adopt healthier behaviour.

The Economist

Keeping the peace: 6/10 Mostly Mr Ban can exhort and facilitate, unable to do much if others resist.

The Economist

Mr Cameron realised both were required, which is why he gave Mr Hilton the freedom to exhort and evangelise.The Conservative Party has never been divided between left and right so much as between establishment types, who seek to manage the British state as it is, and insurgents who want to shake it up.

The Economist

Instead of fearing global competition, as Mr Kerry appears to, Mr Bush will exhort Americans to embrace it.

The Economist

Like Messrs Meri and Ulmanis (and, again like them, with more capacity to exhort than to make laws), he urges his people to match up "to the European level .Melding the Balts into the West depends partly on nitty-gritty reforms of police and border controls, and of courts, for a start.

The Economist

The Hadith (the sayings of Muhammad) exhort believers to seek knowledge, "even as far as China".These scholars' achievements are increasingly celebrated.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exhort" when you want to convey a strong sense of urging or encouragement, particularly in situations where you are advising someone to take a specific course of action that you believe is important.

Common error

Avoid using "exhort" when a gentler suggestion or encouragement is more appropriate. "Exhort" implies a level of intensity and seriousness that might be out of place in casual contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "exhort" is as a verb. It's used to describe the act of strongly urging or encouraging someone to do something. Ludwig AI affirms that "exhort" is used to advise earnestly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exhort" functions as a verb meaning to strongly urge or encourage someone. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in written English. It is grammatically sound and very commonly used, especially in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While the term is mainly neutral in register, it can be used in formal contexts to convey a sense of urgency or importance. Remember to use "exhort" when a strong urging is needed, and to avoid overuse in casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

earnestly urge

Emphasizes the sincerity and seriousness of the urging, similar to but slightly less forceful than "exhort".

strongly encourage

Implies a firm recommendation, differing from "exhort" in its gentler tone.

implore urgently

Highlights the desperation and immediacy of the request, differing in intensity and emotional tone.

urge persuasively

Focuses on the art of convincing through reasoning and arguments, differing from "exhort" which can be more forceful.

fervently appeal

Suggests a passionate and emotional request, highlighting the emotional aspect more than "exhort".

press insistently

Highlights the persistent nature of the urging, differentiating by emphasizing repeated attempts to persuade.

entreat passionately

Emphasizes a heartfelt and emotional plea, differing from "exhort" in its focus on personal appeal.

zealously advocate

Focuses on enthusiastic support and promotion, differing from "exhort" in its emphasis on active endorsement.

strongly advise

Implies a more formal and reasoned approach to suggesting a course of action, which is less forceful than "exhort".

admonish strongly

Carries a connotation of warning or disapproval alongside the encouragement, adding a disciplinary element.

FAQs

How do you use "exhort" in a sentence?

The verb "exhort" means to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something. For example: "The coach "exhorted" his team to play harder".

What is the difference between "exhort" and "encourage"?

"Encourage" is a milder form of urging, while "exhort" implies a more forceful and serious urging. You might "encourage" someone to try a new hobby, but you would "exhort" them to take action on a matter of great importance.

Which is correct, "exhort to do" or "exhort to doing"?

The correct form is "exhort to do". For example: "The leader "exhorted" his followers to fight for their freedom" is correct. The form "exhort to doing" is grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "exhort"?

You can use alternatives like "strongly encourage", "earnestly urge", or "fervently appeal" depending on the context.