counseling 1 of 3

noun

variants or counselling
Definition of counselingnext
as in reassurance

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counseling

2 of 3

adjective

variants or counselling
as in consulting

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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

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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

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

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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

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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
This is why benefits counseling is often one of the most valuable services available through the Ticket to Work Program, even after someone has already started working. — Diane Winiarski, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Or instruct teens struggling with bullying and suicidal thoughts to seek counseling only from Claude or ChatGPT? — Gene Sperling, Time, 1 July 2026
Verb
The claimants are asking for $10 million against each respondent and said their damages include medical care, psychological and counseling care and pain, suffering and mental anguish. — Joshua Dougherty, Idaho Statesman, 22 June 2026 But the unit commander was required to seek input from medical and religious representatives, while also counseling the service member on the potential impact on their ability to deploy. — ABC News, 21 Apr. 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
  • This reassurance requires more than just an announcement at an all-hands meeting.
    — Bill Pappas, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The sign was welcomed by a populace seeking reassurance as fierce arguments over slavery strained the bonds of union.
    — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 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
  • Gemini asked guiding questions in 76% of its messages and gave a straight answer 2% of the time.
    — Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • That balance between comedy and horror became the guiding principle for the production.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026
Definition of guiding
Verb
  • Officials are advising anyone who experienced a water outage or low water pressure in the affected area to boil tap water before using it for drinking, cooking, preparing baby food or brushing their teeth.
    — CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Google leader Sundar Pichai has cautioned that no career path is fully protected from AI’s disruption, advising professionals to take matters into their own hands.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 1 July 2026
Definition of advising
Verb
  • Analysts at Morningstar value the company at half of its IPO debut, with one forecast suggesting intense volatility.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • Their ideas about it were often steeped in stereotypes suggesting that Buddhists were irrational and childish in their thinking.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 July 2026
Definition of suggesting
Noun
  • Senegal did not even get to celebrate a late consolation, with Mbappe thumping the ball home brilliantly from distance.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Hemingway, who championed self-mastery, gave the old fisherman in his novella exactly one consolation out there alone in the Gulf Stream, the thought of the great DiMaggio, who did everything perfectly even with the bone spur in his heel.
    — Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 28 June 2026
Definition of consolation
Adjective
  • Now, there are advisory boards for both historical dolls and Girl of the Year, Cartwright says.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Those pages explain why prosecutors believe O'Hearn should grant the disgraced former stockbroker Patten a steep downward departure from advisory sentencing guidelines.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of advisory
Verb
  • Few figures are as synonymous with Mexican football as Aguirre, now in his third stint coaching the national team after being in charge for the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, but this co-exists with his El Vasco nickname.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Merzouk took on the tough responsibility of coaching a bunch of rambunctious kids (including Alek) on the Eastside Kickers club in Cleveland Heights.
    — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of coaching

Browse Nearby Words

counselee
counseling
counselor
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Cite this Entry

“Counseling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counseling. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on counseling

Nglish: Translation of counseling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about counseling

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