expostulation

IPA/ɪkˌspɒstʃəˈleɪʃn/
IPA/ɪkˌspɑːstʃəˈleɪʃn/

expostulation — noun

  • expostulationsingular
  • expostulationsplural

1. a strong, reasoned argument or remark made to someone in order to express disagr

1.名詞C2
釋義

a strong, reasoned argument or remark made to someone in order to express disagreement with their actions or intentions, usually in an attempt to persuade them to change their mind

例句

Diego ignored his father's expostulations and rode his motorcycle across the desert.

expostulations with possessive noun 'father's'

The teacher's expostulations failed to stop the students from climbing the old oak tree.

同義詞
  • protest

    broader term; can be emotional or physical, not necessarily reasoned

  • remonstrance

    very similar in register and meaning; slightly more common in legal or political contexts

  • objection

    more neutral in register; can be a simple statement of disapproval without the earnest reasoning

  • complaint

    less formal and often about personal dissatisfaction rather than principled disagreement

反義詞
  • agreement

    the opposite of expressing opposition

  • approval

    the opposite of expressing objection

用法筆記

A formal and literary word, most often found in written narrative rather than spoken conversation. Frequently appears in the construction 'despite [possessive] expostulations'.

常見錯誤

❌His expostulation was very loud and angry.
✅His protest was very loud and angry.
💡'Expostulation' describes a reasoned argument, not an emotional outburst, so using it with 'loud and angry' sounds unnatural.
❌She made an expostulation about the cold pizza.
✅She complained about the cold pizza.
💡'Expostulation' is too formal and weighty for trivial everyday complaints.