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
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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
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
Verb
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None objected to the report, but the Farm Bureau expressed concerns about the project’s affects on surrounding farmland.
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As a senator, Johnson had particularly objected to Harry Truman having sent troops to Korea without seeking support from Congress.
Verb
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The additional time and expense are among the reasons state workers have protested the change.
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Before he was sentenced, Guo protested his treatment in jail, saying he was taken to the hospital early Monday.
Verb
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Even Hakimi didn't complain, instead giving van de Ven a dap of respect.
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The document complains about trade, customs officers, juryless courts, and judges’ salaries.
Cite this Entry
“Expostulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expostulate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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