expostulation

[ ik-spos-chuh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of expostulating; remonstrance; earnest and kindly protest:

   In spite of my expostulations, he insisted on driving me home.

2. an expostulatory remark or address.

Word History and Origins

Origin of expostulation¹

1580–90; < Latin expostulātiōn- (stem of expostulātiō ) complaint. See expostulate, -ion

Example Sentences

His expostulations broke through, and Iowa began whittling — then bludgeoning — its way into the lead.

From Washington Times

And are we tacitly meant to regard the poetry-loving Don Diego, with his dainty handkerchiefs and repeated expostulations about “these turbulent times,” as an effeminate gay man?

From Washington Post

Pacific time on Fox’s over-the-air network, a variety of expostulations were registered as loudly for this arrangement as they once were for the Video Assistant Referee system.

From Los Angeles Times

For most Americans, President Trump’s expostulations are audible wallpaper, always there but not really noticed.

From Washington Post

At dinner, an old man burst out yelling in his tongue; the object of these expostulations being one of Bono’s friends, Charles.

From Literature