Definition of counselnext
1
2
3
as in adviser
a person who gives advice especially professionally the toy manufacturer hired a public relations counsel to do some damage control

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

counsel

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to consult
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
as in to suggest
to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action I would counsel caution and deliberation in this sensitive matter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counsel
Noun
At the same time, executive vice president and principal deputy general counsel Nicholas Trutanich will become general counsel. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026 As a result, projects using EB-5 typically require a team of experienced professionals, including immigration and securities counsel, economic impact analysts, a regional center and other specialists. — Jill Jones, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
Above all, Han Fei counseled, leaders must avoid heartfelt emotional responses to affairs of state lest they be interpreted as signs of vulnerability or weakness. — Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2026 Conversely, Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson and Chicago's Austan Goolsbee also have counseled a more patient approach. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for counsel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counsel
Noun
  • Defense lawyer Lawrence Obonyo, who represents Mackenzie and almost all of the others convicted, said he had been instructed to appeal.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Among the 105 people who were ultimately arrested, 75 are believed to have been deported to their home countries, according to local media, and 26 were released from ICE custody after their lawyers filed habeas corpus petitions.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Barker recalled giving a mutual guy friend some dating advice about just having fun and hooking up with women, advising him to think of dating as a sport, while trying to not get too emotionally invested.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Rick Hanson’s advice on appreciating positive experiences suggests that being present can be just as important as the money spent on an outing.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • JPMorgan making billions of dollars of direct investments in nascent companies is a departure from its usual role as a lender and advisor.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
  • And the fourth was about how Bush’s advisers fought bitterly and were split on economic policy.
    — Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Danielle Friedman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
    — Danielle Friedman, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Expect more brands to pair products with questionnaires, telehealth consults or at-home test kits.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The state bestowed Netflix, Paramount and Lionsgate as studio partners, which have conferred a series of incentives to produce titles there.
    — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • For employers, the short-term costs of covering a drug often outweigh the long-term benefits that medication may confer, at least from the employer’s POV.
    — Dylan Scott, Vox, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Acting was his guiding passion, but his deep love for the avant-garde helped till the ground for the city’s theatrical renaissance that the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival catalyzed.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The findings provide a pre-mining benchmark of deep-sea microbial and viral ecosystems to guide future environmental impact assessments.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Engineering textbooks advise practitioners to limit any settlement to around 1 to 3 inches, depending on the soil.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • In a social media post, police advised people nearby to stay alert, be aware of their surroundings and keep children and pets close.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Data from the Israel Defense Forces as of May 2025 suggested a Palestinian civilian death rate of 83%.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • O’Rourke and double bassist Johan Berthling shape a steady drone, while Ishibashi’s piano runs suggest time-lapse footage of ice crystals forming, ordinary little bits cohering into objects of wonder.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsel. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster