reproach

noun

/rɪˈprəʊtʃ/

(formal)

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[uncountable] blame or criticism for something you have done
- His voice was full of reproach.
- above/beyond reproach The captain's behaviour is beyond reproach (= so good that you cannot criticize it).
Extra Examples
- He glanced at her with reproach.
- Her conduct had always been beyond reproach.
- She had never uttered a word of reproach.
- There was mild reproach in his tone.
- There was no reproach about his failure to turn up.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- bitter
- mild
preposition
- above reproach
- beyond reproach
- with reproach
- …
phrases
- full of reproach
- a look of reproach
- a word of reproach
- …
See full entry
[countable] a word or remark expressing blame or criticism
- He listened to his wife's bitter reproaches.
[uncountable] a state of shame or loss of honour
- Her actions brought reproach upon herself.
[singular] reproach (to somebody/something) a person or thing that brings shame on somebody/something synonym discredit
- Such living conditions are a reproach to our society.
- Paul saw this as a reproach to himself.

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French reprochier (verb), from a base meaning ‘bring back close’, based on Latin prope ‘near’.

verb

/rɪˈprəʊtʃ/

(formal)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they reproach	/rɪˈprəʊtʃ/ /rɪˈprəʊtʃ/
he / she / it reproaches	/rɪˈprəʊtʃɪz/ /rɪˈprəʊtʃɪz/
past simple reproached	/rɪˈprəʊtʃt/ /rɪˈprəʊtʃt/
past participle reproached	/rɪˈprəʊtʃt/ /rɪˈprəʊtʃt/
-ing form reproaching	/rɪˈprəʊtʃɪŋ/ /rɪˈprəʊtʃɪŋ/

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to blame or criticize somebody for something that they have done or not done, because you are disappointed in them
- reproach somebody Nobody has a right to reproach me.
- reproach somebody for (doing) something She was reproached by colleagues for leaking the story to the press.
- reproach somebody with (doing) something She reproached him with his cruelty.
- reproach (somebody) + speech ‘You know that isn't true,’ he reproached her.
Topics Feelingsc2
to feel guilty about something that you think you should have done in a different way
- reproach yourself She had no reason to reproach herself.
- reproach yourself for (doing) something He reproached himself for not telling her the truth.
- reproach yourself with something You have nothing to reproach yourself with.

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French reprochier (verb), from a base meaning ‘bring back close’, based on Latin prope ‘near’.