noun
exhortation
eg-zor-TAY-shun
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.”
noun
1
A strong, urgent piece of encouragement or advice, especially one meant to spur someone into action.
"The captain's exhortation lifted the team at half-time."
"Repeated exhortations to save water had little effect."
2
formal The act of urging or encouraging people strongly.
"He relied on exhortation rather than penalties."
"Change will need more than exhortation."
How to use exhortation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strong push in words to get someone to do something.
When to use it
Formal; common in political, religious and sporting contexts.
Memory tip
Do not confuse it with 'extortion', which means obtaining something by threats; the two sound similar but are unrelated.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
repeated exhortations
exhortations to action
despite exhortations
moral exhortation
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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
View more →Related words
Rhymes for exhortation
region
cation
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
See all 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.
