expostulate

1. (intransitive) To protest or remonstrate; to reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of conduct [(often) with with].Examples: "The tears would run plentifully down my face when I made these reflections; and sometimes I would expostulate with myself why Providence should thus completely ruin His creatures, and render them so absolutely miserable; so without help, abandoned, so entirely depressed, that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a life."; "[…] he affectionately loved many persons to whom he never or hardly ever shewed a countenance of love. Once on my venturing to expostulate with him on the subject, he reminded me of Solomon: “Many sons I have; it is not fit that I should smile on them.”"; "Men expostulate with erring friends; they bring accusations against enemies who have done them a wrong."Synonyms: challenge, demur, except, inveigh, kick, object, protest, remonstrateintransitive