reprehend means to criticize, to reprove. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
reprehend is pronounced /ˌɹɛpɹəˈhɛnd/.
Why “reprehend” is a great word
REPREHEND — [Verb] To express disapproval of or find fault with someone or something, typically in a formal or rebuking manner. From Latin reprehendō ("I hold back, check, blame"), from re- ("back") + prehendō ("I hold, seize"). First attested in English in the mid-14th century. Unlike "criticize," which can be a casual or aesthetic judgment, or "reprove," which suggests a corrective admonition, to reprehend is to formally seize upon a fault and hold it back for stern judgment. It is the archbishop’s solemn pronouncement from the pulpit, the disciplinary committee’s recorded verdict, or the magistrate’s cold, measured tone before passing sentence—a ritual of fault-finding where order closes decisively around a breach.
Etymology
From Latin reprehendō (“I hold back, check, blame”), from re- (“back”) + prehendō (“I hold, seize”). Compare French reprendre (“to reprove”).
verb
- To criticize, to reprove.“The teacher did not hesitate to reprehend students for cheating.”