reprove
/ɹɪˈpɹuːv/
"reprove" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“reprove” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 7
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To express disapproval.
Corpus desk
Index EN-reprove · reprove · English
reprove · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-LONG 7 letters
- VOW-3 3 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "R" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | reprove |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ɹɪˈpɹuːv/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “reprove” in English
Rare enough to double-check
reprove is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ɹɪˈpɹuːv/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.
Zero misspellings are on record for reprove in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English repreven, reproven, from Anglo-Norman reprover, Middle French reprouver, from Latin reprobāre. Doublet of reprobate. The correct English form is reprove, spelled R-E-P-R-O-V-E.
Definition
- 1To express disapproval.
- 2To criticise, rebuke, or reprimand (someone), usually in a gentle and kind tone.
- 3To deny or reject (as a feeling, behaviour, action, etc.).
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how reprove appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
She ached to be with Affad again – and to reprove the feeling she frowned and bit her lip.
Etymology
From Middle English repreven, reproven, from Anglo-Norman reprover, Middle French reprouver, from Latin reprobāre. Doublet of reprobate.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.