expostulate
expostulate — verb
- expostulatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- expostulateshe / she / it
- expostulatedpast simple
- expostulating-ing form
1. to tell someone earnestly why you believe their action or decision is wrong, hop
to tell someone earnestly why you believe their action or decision is wrong, hoping to persuade them to change their mind — used in formal or literary English.
Astrid expostulated with her brother about his plan to drop out of university.
expostulate + with + person + about + issue
In an open letter, Henry expostulated against the mayor's decision to close the public library.
expostulate + against + decision or policy
The elderly librarian expostulated at length about people who return books with torn pages.
Yael expostulated with the contractor when he tried to use cheaper materials than agreed.
When the council announced the park would be sold, several residents expostulated loudly.
- remonstrate
equally formal, but focuses on stating objections rather than reasoning at length to persuade
- protest
much more common and less formal; can be used without the nuance of trying to change someone's mind
- argue
a broader, everyday word that covers any exchange of opposing views, not necessarily with the earnest tone of expostulate
文法句型
expostulate with [person] about [issue]
expostulate against [decision or policy]
expostulate on [topic]
用法筆記
Almost always followed by a preposition: use 'with' before the person you are reasoning with, and 'about', 'against', or 'on' for the topic. This verb is very rare in everyday speech — learners are more likely to encounter it in literary texts, formal speeches, or historical writing.