expostulate

[ ik-spos-chuh-leyt ]

verb (used without object)

, ex·pos·tu·lat·ed, ex·pos·tu·lat·ing.

1. to reason earnestly with someone against something that person intends to do or has done; remonstrate:

   His father expostulated with him about the evils of gambling.

   Synonyms: counsel, exhort, protest, argue, dispute

expostulate

/ ɪkˈspɒstjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. intrusually foll bywith to argue or reason (with), esp in order to dissuade from an action or intention

Derived Forms

• exˈpostuˌlator, noun
• exˈpostulatory, adjective
• exˌpostuˈlation, noun
• exˈpostuˌlatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• ex·postu·lating·ly adverb
• ex·postu·lator noun
• unex·postu·lating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expostulate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin expostulātus “urgently demanded, required” (past participle of expostulāre ); ex- ¹, postulate

Word History and Origins

Origin of expostulate¹

C16: from Latin expostulāre to require, from postulāre to demand; see postulate

Example Sentences

He often stops on his way into and out of the proceedings, which cameras can’t film, to expostulate and to cast various developments as victories.

From Seattle Times

"I was born in a provincial town, in a family that had nothing to do with the world of journalists, politicians or bankers," he expostulated, clearly annoyed.

From BBC

Sometimes, when the day was very unfavourable, his sisters would expostulate.

From Literature

Adam Smith, who expostulated the theory of the Invisible Hand in “The Wealth of Nations” in 1776, believed that most business was narrowly focused on reducing costs and improving quality.

From Washington Post

Right now, one of her loudest detractors is that expostulating foghorn Morgan, who believes women should be equal to men just as long their wardrobes meet his exacting age-appropriate standards.

From The Guardian