admonish
ad-MON-ishverbMeaning to warn or scold gently but firmly
Memory hook ad-MOM-ish: a gentle MOM-ish warning. “Helmet on, please,” says Mom, in her gentle but firm Mom-ish way. To admonish is to warn someone gently but firmly.
The coach admonished the players to drink water before practice.
In context The librarian did not shout at the giggling students; she simply admonished them, with a finger to her lips, to keep their voices down.
Similar warn, caution, counsel, advise
Opposite praise, encourage
From Latin admonere, “to remind, warn”: ad (to) + monere (to warn).