During the debate on funding SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program), Democratic Representative Pete Stark made a series of remarks decrying Republicans and President Bush. The following day, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement admonishing Stark for comments she characterized as "inappropriate" and which "distracted from the serious matter at hand."

Admonish is a 14th century coinage with roots in the Latin verb meaning "to remind, warn." Used the way Rep. Pelosi did, admonishment names an expression of warning or disapproval about remissness or error, especially when such warning or disapproval urges duty, caution, or amendment. Admonish keeps company with such terms as reprove, rebuke, reprimand, chide, and reproach. What distinguishes those verbs?

Admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel; reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault; rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof; reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke; and reproach and chide both suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding.

As for the noun admonishment, we wouldn't dare scold you if you use its more common synonym admonition instead.