Expostulate

To express strong disapproval or disagreement; to reason earnestly with someone against something that they intend to do or have done. It involves presenting objections or arguments in an attempt to dissuade or correct the person's actions. The goal of expostulation is often to change another's behavior or viewpoint, highlighting potential negative consequences or the perceived wrongness of their actions. It suggests a tone of remonstrance and a desire to persuade, sometimes bordering on reproach, but always with the intent to benefit the other person, even if they don't agree at first.

Expostulate meaning with examples

• The mother began to expostulate with her son about the dangers of reckless driving, citing multiple accidents in their area and the potential for serious injury, hoping he would change his mind before his trip.
• After finding out about the risky plan, the committee decided to expostulate, raising concerns about the feasibility, financial burden and potential environmental damage of the massive project and seeking to prevent its execution.
• The teacher chose to expostulate with the students regarding the dangers of using AI tools to write their essays and the potential for them to damage their academic integrity and their personal writing skill development.
• Upon learning of his friend's plan to quit his job without having secured another, the financial advisor decided to expostulate, outlining the potential financial risks and the importance of a safety net.
• When he heard his neighbor talking about firing all of his workers, he thought he must expostulate with him, explaining that such actions could irreparably damage the neighborhood and the employees.