expostulation

C2 Topic:People & Society

US /ɪkˌspɑː.stjəˈleɪ.ʃən/ UK /ɪkˌspɒs.tjəˈleɪ.ʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #440034

Meanings

1

noun
an earnest expression of disagreement, protest, or complaint intended to persuade someone

Her expostulation grew louder when the officials refused to reconsider.
2

noun
the act of reasoning earnestly with someone in order to dissuade or correct them

Despite his friend's expostulation, he persisted with the dangerous plan.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an earnest expression of... protest remonstrance objection

2 noun · the act of reasoning... remonstration appeal admonition

Opposites

agreement acquiescence

Word family

Forms expostulations

Derived forms expostulatory

Related forms expostulate complaint dissuasion

Etymology

From Latin expostulatio ("complaint, urgent demand"), from expostulare ("to demand, complain, or remonstrate"), built from ex- ("out, thoroughly") + postulare ("to ask, demand"). English expostulation came to emphasize earnest verbal protest or persuasion.

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# expostulation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪkˌspɑː.stjəˈleɪ.ʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪkˌspɒs.tjəˈleɪ.ʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 440034

## Meanings
1. an earnest expression of disagreement, protest, or complaint intended to persuade someone
2. the act of reasoning earnestly with someone in order to dissuade or correct them

## Examples
- Her expostulation grew louder when the officials refused to reconsider.
- Despite his friend's expostulation, he persisted with the dangerous plan.

## Synonyms
- protest
- remonstrance
- objection
- appeal

## Antonyms
- agreement
- acquiescence

## Derived Forms
- expostulatory

## Related Forms
- expostulate
- complaint
- dissuasion

## Etymology
From Latin expostulatio ("complaint, urgent demand"), from expostulare ("to demand, complain, or remonstrate"), built from ex- ("out, thoroughly") + postulare ("to ask, demand"). English expostulation came to emphasize earnest verbal protest or persuasion.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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