Definition

Noun: 1. The act of exhorting; an earnest attempt at persuasion: The action of strongly encouraging or urging someone to do something, often with great seriousness and passion. 2. A communication intended to urge or persuade the recipients to take some action: The specific words, speech, or message that is used to strongly encourage or advise someone.

Examples

• The coach's exhortation to "never give up" motivated the team to win the game.
• Her speech was more of a passionate exhortation to action than a simple report.
• The leader's exhortations for peace were heard around the world.
• He ignored the repeated exhortations from his doctor to quit smoking.

Advanced Usage

• Formal and Rhetorical Context: "Exhortation" is often used in formal, literary, or religious contexts. It implies a strong, urgent, and morally charged appeal.
  • The prophet's exhortation called on the people to repent.
• As a Countable or Uncountable Noun: It can be used both for the general act (uncountable) and for specific instances or speeches (countable).
  • (Uncountable): The sermon was full of exhortation.
  • (Countable): The preacher delivered several powerful exhortations.

Variants and Related Words

• Exhort (verb): To strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.
  • She exhorted her colleagues to work harder.
• Exhortative (adjective): Intended to exhort; having the nature of an exhortation.
  • He used an exhortative tone in his letter.
• Hortatory (adjective): A formal synonym meaning "tending or aiming to exhort."

Synonyms

• Urging: The act of earnestly recommending or advising something.
• Encouragement: The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
• Admonition: A firm warning or reprimand (can overlap, but "admonition" often includes a stronger sense of warning or criticism).
• Incitement: The action of provoking unlawful behavior or urging someone to behave violently (stronger and often negative).

Antonyms

• Discouragement: The action of trying to persuade someone not to do something.
• Deterrence: The action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
• Dissuasion: The act of persuading someone not to take a particular course of action.

Noun

1. the act of exhorting; an earnest attempt at persuasion
2. a communication intended to urge or persuade the recipients to take some action