expostulate

verb

ik-ˈspäs-chə-ˌlāt How to pronounce expostulate (audio)
Definition of expostulatenext
as in to object
to present an opposing opinion or argument the concerned parents tried to expostulate with their daughter when she announced her intention to live on her own in New York City

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 expostulate But most of her extended conversations on campus were either with the administrator, Val, or with the custodian, a man named Hank who liked to park himself in her office doorway and expostulate about the upcoming hunting season. — Literary Hub, 11 May 2026 But her style, it is suggested (for what happened at those audiences was wholly confidential) was never to expostulate – merely to ask a leading question, or to drop a subtle hint. — Sarah Gristwood, CNN, 12 Sep. 2022 His humility does not work in his favor when promoting fights, and there is no hype man in Miocic’s corner expostulating his accolades. — Justin Barrasso, SI.com, 14 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expostulate
  1. object
  2. complain
  3. protest
Verb
  • In reality, both objects orbit the star in the same direction, just at different, changing speeds.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The choice among block, file and object storage depends on factors such as application requirements, latency, data type, scale, accessibility, governance and the level of automation required.
    — Paul Speciale, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of object
Verb
  • Some users have complained on social media that the agent accessed personal messages without authorization, which the company has disputed.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In a 2023 memorandum obtained by Fox News Digital, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, who was then serving as the city council president, said residents complained about rodent infestations during a community meeting.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of complain
Verb
  • Student groups protesting since mid-September through school blockades have urged supporters to join them.
    — SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In ⁠France, high-school ​students have been protesting for weeks to demand more teachers and better ​facilities, a campaign that looks to be spreading to other population groups.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of protest

Browse Nearby Words

expository
expostulate
expostulated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expostulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expostulate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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