- To reprove is to criticize or scold someone.
- When you tell a young person that you do not like the way they dress, this is an example of a situation where you reprove.
- When you scold someone for his bad behavior, this is an example of a situation where you reprove.
transitive verbreproved, reproving
- to speak to in disapproval; rebuke
- to express disapproval of (something done or said); censure
- Obsolete to refute; disprove
- Obsolete to convince or convict
Origin of reproveMiddle English reproven ; from Old French reprouver ; from Ecclesiastical Late Latin reprobare: see re- and amp; prove
transitive verbre·proved, re·prov·ing, re·proves
- To express disapproval to (someone); criticize: reproved the children for making too much noise. See Synonyms at admonish.
- To express disapproval about (something): “Some bigger boys laughed. But Augustine angrily reproved their frivolity” (Richard Hughes).
Origin of reproveMiddle English reproven, from Anglo-Norman repruver, variant of Old French reprover, from Late Latin reprobāre, to disapprove; see reprobate.
(third-person singular simple present reproves, present participle reproving, simple past and past participle reproved)