counseling 1 of 3

noun

variants or counselling
Definition of counselingnext
as in reassurance

Related Words

Relevance

counseling

2 of 3

adjective

variants or counselling
as in consulting

Related Words

counseling

3 of 3

verb

variants or counselling
present participle of counsel
1
as in conferring
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
as in guiding
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed every year the admissions officer counsels thousands of students about the process of applying to college

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in advising
to give advice to perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in suggesting
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 counseling
Noun
Her work included providing social services such as access to employment counselling and health care to low-income, minority residents in central Pennsylvania. — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026 The parents also allegedly knew their son had mental health problems and was a threat to others but did not properly address the issues by putting him into counseling or therapy. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
The Lambs moved to Eugene, Oregon, where Jerry Lamb went back to school to earn a master’s degree in counseling psychology. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Offer him the option of couples counseling so your issues can be mediated. — Abigail Van Buren, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for counseling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counseling
  1. reassurance
  2. consulting
  3. guiding
  4. advising
  5. suggesting
  6. consolation
  7. advisory
  8. coaching
Noun
  • Intense downpours offer little reassurance when rain falls unevenly.
    — Sibi Arasu, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • For Cheltenham parent Ikysha Dearry, whose children have attended schools in the district, the new law provides some reassurance.
    — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of reassurance
Adjective
  • McKinsey could also slash as many as 2,000 non-consulting staff in one of its biggest round of layoffs ever, Bloomberg reported last month, citing unnamed sources close to the matter.
    — Anna Cooban, CNN, 23 Mar. 2023
  • The report also found McKinsey officials used their contract with the government to drum up even more consulting work with private companies.
    — Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2022
Definition of consulting
Verb
  • Management is guiding to flat EBITDA margins for the year, as lower-margin acquisitions and a fading FX tailwind offset productivity gains, so don't be worried about a lack of profitability growth in coming quarters.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Co-owner Nadja Mumelter leads regular forest bathing sessions, guiding guests through a mindful immersion into nature.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of guiding
Verb
  • Indeed, whether evaluating political rivals or advising on executive decisions, Abigail proved essential to John’s success, securing her legacy as a true Founding Mother.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Oct. 2026
  • However, travelers could still face disruptions on the ground, with the embassy advising Americans to check for Metro station closures and other transportation interruptions before heading out.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of advising
Verb
  • The tests could easily do the opposite, as people with results suggesting cancer require follow-up testing that overwhelms our healthcare system, potentially delaying diagnoses for people with cancer.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The researchers also found evidence that features of both states could briefly coexist, suggesting that their relationship is more complicated than a simple winner-takes-all competition.
    — Sven Badoux, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of suggesting
Noun
  • The fans who were in line were given free pizza as a consolation for the long wait.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • But that's little consolation for those who are stuck on the outskirts of the job market, knocking on doors that rarely open.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of consolation
Adjective
  • Analysts at research and advisory firm Gartner predict that 80% of neocloud companies will either cease operations or be absorbed by 2030.
    — Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But Raman said that Chandrasekaran serves an important advisory role for her.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of advisory
Verb
  • After a year coaching wide receivers at the College of Idaho, Moore followed Petersen to Washington in 2015 for two seasons before taking the wide receivers coach position at Fresno State.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Coaching the Roos was Whitaker’s first head coaching job from 2006-12.
    — PJ Green October 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of coaching

Browse Nearby Words

counselee
counseling
counselor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counseling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counseling. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on counseling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about counseling

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shindig

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All