counselverb [ T ]
uk/ˈkaʊn.səl/us/ˈkaʊn.səl/-ll- or US usually -l-to give advice, especially on social or personal problems:
The police have provided experts to counsel local people affected by the tragedy.
My job involves counselling unemployed people on/about how to find work.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Counselling & psychotherapy
- analyst
- aversion therapy
- behaviour therapy
- CBT
- counselling
- counsellor
- group therapy
- helpline
- marriage counseling
- marriage guidance
- psychoanalyse
- psychotherapist
- psychotherapy
- sex therapy
- sexologist
- support group
- support network
- therapist
- tough love
- victim support
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Giving advice
counselnoun
uk/ˈkaʊn.səl/us/ˈkaʊn.səl/[ U ] formal advice:
I should have listened to my father's wise counsel, and saved some money instead of spending it all.
C2 [ S ] specialized law one or more of the lawyers taking part in a legal case:
The judge addressed counsel.
Counsel for the defence (= the lawyer giving advice to the accused person) argued convincingly that his client was not guilty.
More examples
- His conviction was quashed in March 1986 after his counsel argued that the police evidence was a tissue of lies.
- From 1940 to 1943, he was general counsel of the House committee investigating un-American activities.
- He provided wise counsel to the young boys in his care.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Giving advice
- advice
- advise
- advisory
- backseat driver
- caution
- consulting
- counsellor
- GDA
- hint
- lifestyle manager
- mentor
- Monday
- Monday-morning quarterback idiom
- pick
- pick sb's brains idiom
- preach
- professional advice
- talk some sense into sb idiom
- tip
- waste your breath idiom
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Lawyers & legal officials
Idiom(s)
a/the counsel of despair
keep your own counsel