Whatever they directed, it was in vain to expostulate; fetters, and bread and water, were the sure consequences of resistance.
Source: tatoeba (11570976)
Expostulate
/ɛksˈpɑstjʊleɪt/
Synonyms for "expostulate" (69 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: admonish, argue, argue, beef, bitch.
- Sentence evidence is available for expostulate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "expostulate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "expostulate"
Keep "expostulate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "expostulate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "expostulate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "expostulate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesMore specific
3 entriesCollocations
5 entriesearnest expostulationexpostulate againstexpostulate withstern expostulationvehement expostulation
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
The tears would run plentifully down my face when I made these reflections; and sometimes I would expostulate with myself why Providence should thus completely ruin His creatures, and render them so absolutely miserable; so without help, abandoned, so entirely depressed, that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a life.
Source: wiktionary
[…] he affectionately loved many persons to whom he never or hardly ever shewed a countenance of love. Once on my venturing to expostulate with him on the subject, he reminded me of Solomon: “Many sons I have; it is not fit that I should smile on them.”
Source: wiktionary
Men expostulate with erring friends; they bring accusations against enemies who have done them a wrong.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "expostulate"?
Closest matches include admonish, argue, argue, beef, bitch.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "expostulate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.