exhortation
Exhortation (noun) means a strong, urgent piece of encouragement or advice, especially one meant to spur someone into action. Example: “The captain's exhortation lifted the team at half-time.”
How to use exhortation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strong push in words to get someone to do something.
Formal; common in political, religious and sporting contexts.
Do not confuse it with 'extortion', which means obtaining something by threats; the two sound similar but are unrelated.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The captain's _____ lifted the team at half-time.
Etymology
From Latin exhortatio, from exhortari ('to encourage strongly'), from ex- (intensifier) plus hortari ('to urge').
Synonyms
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Rhymes for exhortation
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an exhortation and a command?
A command demands compliance and usually carries authority and consequences. An exhortation urges and appeals, relying on persuasion and moral force rather than power, so the listener remains free to ignore it.
Is an exhortation positive or negative?
Usually positive: it pushes someone towards doing something good or necessary. When the emphasis is on warning against a fault, 'admonition' or 'reproach' is the better word.
What is the verb form of 'exhortation'?
'Exhort', pronounced eg-ZORT with a silent 'h'. You exhort someone to do something: 'She exhorted them to keep going.'
What is the meaning of exhortation?
"exhortation" (noun) means a strong, urgent piece of encouragement or advice, especially one meant to spur someone into action.