1
as in lawyers
a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations
if you cannot afford counsel, one will be provided for you
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in advisers
a person who gives advice especially professionally
the toy manufacturer hired a public relations counsel to do some damage control
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in consults
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem
concerned parents counseling about the problem of substance abuse in their community
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in guides
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed
every year the admissions officer counsels thousands of students about the process of applying to college
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in advises
to give advice to
perhaps a psychologist would be better qualified to counsel you
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in suggests
to put (something) forward as one's choice for a wise or proper course of action
I would counsel caution and deliberation in this sensitive matter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counsels
Aj Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
After taking office, Lee appointed three independent counsels to look into allegations involving Yoon, his wife and associates.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Sitting alongside our lawyers in our counsels, defending the state of Texas and having to put my name out there in defense of the state.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Tess wants to keep certain parts of the past secret from him—that way, Marjorie won’t relearn them—but Jon counsels candor.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
At its core, the dispute will help determine how much authority special counsels have, how transparent the Justice Department must be in politically sensitive investigations, and whether a sitting president can use the courts to keep findings about his own conduct from public view.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Ray Dalio counsels holding amid bubble.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025
Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
Moody has been dedicating her practice to helping clients navigate the AI space and counsels nearly a dozen generative voice and audio AI companies.
—Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
Shaziah Singh counsels public and private strategic buyers on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and debt transactions, and corporate matters.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Nicolas Thompson-Lleras, a Los Angeles attorney who counsels immigrants facing deportation, said two of his clients were registered under aliases at different hospitals in Los Angeles County last year.
—Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Another letter by the Colorado County Clerks Association counsels the same.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
Licensed therapist Allison Guilbault, who counsels Gen Z clients in New York City, said splitting tabs, sharing Ubers and buying their own drinks has also become the standard.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Kelsey’s group has facilitated 234 face-to-face surrenders through its hotline, which counsels women who might want to surrender their babies, but just about 62 babies have been left in boxes since Kelsey started the organization, according to Kelly, the nurse and company representative.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
For fintech executives and general counsels, these developments signal a pivotal shift.
—Aj Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
After taking office, Lee appointed three independent counsels to look into allegations involving Yoon, his wife and associates.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Sitting alongside our lawyers in our counsels, defending the state of Texas and having to put my name out there in defense of the state.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Tess wants to keep certain parts of the past secret from him—that way, Marjorie won’t relearn them—but Jon counsels candor.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
At its core, the dispute will help determine how much authority special counsels have, how transparent the Justice Department must be in politically sensitive investigations, and whether a sitting president can use the courts to keep findings about his own conduct from public view.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Ray Dalio counsels holding amid bubble.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025
Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
Moody has been dedicating her practice to helping clients navigate the AI space and counsels nearly a dozen generative voice and audio AI companies.
—Claudia Rosenbaum, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
Oliver counsels Evan that Bree is very frightened and craves stability.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
Shaziah Singh counsels public and private strategic buyers on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and debt transactions, and corporate matters.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Nicolas Thompson-Lleras, a Los Angeles attorney who counsels immigrants facing deportation, said two of his clients were registered under aliases at different hospitals in Los Angeles County last year.
—Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Another letter by the Colorado County Clerks Association counsels the same.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
Licensed therapist Allison Guilbault, who counsels Gen Z clients in New York City, said splitting tabs, sharing Ubers and buying their own drinks has also become the standard.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Kelsey’s group has facilitated 234 face-to-face surrenders through its hotline, which counsels women who might want to surrender their babies, but just about 62 babies have been left in boxes since Kelsey started the organization, according to Kelly, the nurse and company representative.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counsels
Noun
-
The Justice Department filed the affidavit to a Georgia federal court for release to the public on the order of a federal judge, who instructed government lawyers to make redactions to shield the names of nongovernmental witnesses.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Beyond the physical health risks, doctors and lawyers warn the societal shame around menstruation has a corrosive impact on women’s mental wellbeing and sense of self.—
Sana Noor Haq,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
London — Keir Starmer was fighting to salvage his premiership on Monday after the resignations of key advisers and growing calls from senior Labour Party figures for the British prime minister to step down, following bitter fallout from the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
His focus, his advisers say, is on legislative changes to voting procedures, reforms that are permitted by the Constitution but face Democratic resistance in the Senate.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Irene, overwhelmed, joins her son’s therapy sessions, consults doctors and seeks help in traditional Chinese medicine at the local dispensary.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The footage from Minneapolis is disturbing, said Cathy Riggs, a retired Los Angeles police officer of more than 30 years who now consults on police use-of-force cases.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That strategy guides Vanlab's work inside the tiny 470-cm-long (185-in) Kia PV5 Passenger van, where the company creates a vis-a-vis bench lounge behind the van's second row of seating.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Another smartly dressed man appears, smiling, and guides us into a discreet anteroom.—
Caroline Law,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Supplies are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so McDonald's advises interested customers to act fast.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The Legislative Analyst’s Office, which analyzes ballot initiatives and also advises legislators, estimated schools and local governments would lose at least $12 billion a year.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Her work and seniority suggests that she should have been made a partner a while back.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But Queen at Sea quickly reveals itself to be stranger and more unsettling than its surface suggests.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In response, Walz issued an executive order activating cyber-security specialists from the Minnesota National Guard, and the FBI and private consultants quickly became involved.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
12 Feb. 2026
-
An entire cottage industry of startups and consultants has emerged to help retailers and brands ensure their products appear in AI search results, a field called Generative Engine Optimization.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That is the sole province of the president under our constitutional scheme, which confers extremely broad executive powers on the president, especially in foreign relations.—
Sandeep Gopalan,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2026
-
The plant’s namesake milky sap contains toxic chemicals that make the monarch butterflies themselves hazardous to predators — and confers some protection against OE.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counsels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counsels. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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