censure

noun cen·sure \ ˈsen(t)-shər \

Definition of censure

1 :a judgment involving condemnation

unorthodox practices awaiting the censure of the city council

2 archaic :opinion, judgment

3 :the act of blaming or condemning sternly

The country faces international censure for its alleged involvement in the assassination.

4 :an official reprimand

The lawyer's misconduct resulted in a letter of censure from the judge.

See censure defined for English-language learners

See censure defined for kids

censure was our Word of the Day on 10/01/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of censure in a Sentence

The country faces international censure for its alleged involvement in the assassination.
a rare censure of a senator by the full United States Senate for misconduct

Recent Examples of censure from the Web

Calif. Democrats are are now pushing censure of the president in the House.

— francine kiefer, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why GOP Congress will soldier on with Trump," 18 Aug. 2017
A spokesman for Ryan declined to comment on the Democrats' censure effort.

— mike debonis, chicagotribune.com, "House Democrats push GOP to do more than talk tough on Trump," 16 Aug. 2017
The court said a censure seemed appropriate for Oakland County Judge Lisa Gorcyca.

— ed white, The Seattle Times, "No suspension for Michigan judge who locked up 3 siblings," 28 July 2017
Doing so will carry the risk of serious censure from the university.

— noah daponte-smith, National Review, "Harvard Aims to Restrict the Freedom of Association," 14 July 2017
Democratic leaders have said their rules provide Johnson another two weeks to respond, after which the caucus could take disciplinary action, including censure, suspension or expulsion from the caucus.

— phillip m. bailey, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville Democrats finish Dan Johnson investigation but Jessica Green wants findings released now," 22 June 2017
Pope Francis made a pilgrimage to northern Italy on Tuesday to honor two 20th-century parish priests whose commitment to the poor and powerless brought them censure from the Vatican.

— antonio calanni, The Seattle Times, "Pope honors ‘rebel’ priests censured for commitment to poor," 20 June 2017
The group lifted previously imposed censures on the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas.

— jennifer brown, The Denver Post, "Community College of Aurora censured for violating academic freedom of instructor," 17 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'censure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of censure

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French censure, borrowed from Latin cēnsūa "office of censor, assessment, moral oversight," from cēnsēre "to give as an opinion, perform the duties of a censor" + -ūra -ure — more at ¹censor

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First Known Use: 14th century

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censure Synonyms

Synonyms

commination, condemnation, denunciation, excoriation, objurgation, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reproof, riot act, stricture

Antonyms

citation, commendation, endorsement (also indorsement)

Related Words

admonishment, admonition, castigation, chastisement, damnation, punishment, remonstrance; business, devil, dressing-down, lash, lecture, lesson, rap, scolding, talking-to, tongue-lashing; belittlement, criticism, deprecation, depreciation, disparagement, pan

Near Antonyms

acclamation, honor, tribute; encomium, eulogy, panegyric, plaudit (s), praise; approval, blessing, sanction

censure

verb

Definition of censure

censured; censuring play \ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb

1 obsolete :estimate, judge

2 :to find fault with and criticize as blameworthy

He was censured by the committee for his failure to report the problem.

—

censurer

play \ˈsen(t)-shər-ər\ noun

See censure defined for English-language learners

Examples of censure in a Sentence

He was censured by the committee for his failure to report the problem.
a vote to censure the President for conduct that was unbecoming to his office

Recent Examples of censure from the Web

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and a small group of Democrats called for a congressional resolution to censure Trump.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "President Trump defends Civil War symbols," 17 Aug. 2017
However, critics said the government had not really censured them in any way.

— david meyer, Fortune, "Merkel and Rival Lay Into German Auto Industry Ahead of Election," 14 Aug. 2017
The House of Representatives should take such matters seriously, and should move to formally censure her.

— kevin d. williamson, National Review, "What Persecution We Raise," 13 Aug. 2017
The council deadlocked on motions that included censuring both politicians and asking them to resign within 48 hours.

— christina hall, Detroit Free Press, "Fraser City Council to hear sexual harassment claims against mayor, councilman," 14 July 2017
So at most, Svonkin could be reprimanded or censured.

— sonali kohli, latimes.com, "Committee to investigate whether L.A. community college trustee violated ethics code," 14 July 2017
But the bank was censured by federal regulators and had to write down a wave of bad loans in the late 2000s financial downturn.

— joseph n. distefano, Philly.com, "Shore lender buys Sun Bank from Wilbur Ross, Brown family for $487M," 30 June 2017
Within weeks, Cohn was banished and McCarthy was soon censured.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn’s Ruthless Symbiosis Changed America," 28 June 2017
Both priests were considered rebels in their lifetimes and were censured by Vatican authorities for their writings.

— antonio calanni, The Seattle Times, "Pope honors ‘rebel’ priests censured for commitment to poor," 20 June 2017

censure Has An Offical Connotation

Censure and its synonyms criticize, reprehend, condemn, and denounce all essentially mean "to find fault with openly." Additionally, censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and often refers to an official action. Criticize implies finding fault with someone’s methods, policies, or intentions, as in "the commentator criticized the manager’s bullpen strategy." Reprehend implies sharp criticism or disapproval, as in "a teacher who reprehends poor grammar." Condemn usually suggests a final unfavorable judgment, as in "the group condemned the court’s decision to execute the criminal." Denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration, as in "her letter to the editor denounced the corrupt actions of the mayor’s office."

Origin and Etymology of censure

derivative of ¹censure, probably after Middle French censurer

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1587

See Words from the same year

censure Synonyms

Synonyms

condemn, denounce, objurgate, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, bring to account, call to account

Antonyms

cite, commend, endorse (also indorse)

Related Words

admonish, chastise; castigate, punish; bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up, dress down, flay, gibbet, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, tell off, upbraid; belittle, criticize, deprecate, depreciate, disparage

Near Antonyms

acclaim, applause, hail, honor; eulogize, laud, praise; approve, bless, sanction

Synonym Discussion of censure

criticize, reprehend, censure, reprobate, condemn, denounce mean to find fault with openly. criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions.

- criticized the police for using violence

reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking.

- reprehends the self-centeredness of today's students

censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and of reprimanding.

- a Senator formally censured by his peers

reprobate implies strong disapproval or firm refusal to sanction.

- reprobated his son's unconventional lifestyle

condemn usually suggests an unqualified and final unfavorable judgment.

- condemned the government's racial policies

denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration.

- a pastoral letter denouncing abortion

CENSURE Defined for English Language Learners

censure

noun

Definition of censure for English Language Learners

: official strong criticism

censure

verb

Definition of censure for English Language Learners

: to officially criticize (someone or something) strongly and publicly

CENSURE Defined for Kids

censure

noun cen·sure \ ˈsen-shər \

Definition of censure for Students

1 :the act of finding fault with or blaming

2 :an official criticism

censure

verb

Definition of censure for Students

censured; censuring

:to find fault with especially publicly

Law Dictionary

censure

noun cen·sure \ ˈsen-chər \

legal Definition of censure

:an expression of official disapproval

a House resolution approving a censure of the representative

—

censure

transitive verb

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censure was our Word of the Day on 10/01/2017. Hear the podcast!

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Origin and Etymology of censure

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censure

Definition of censure

censurer

Examples of censure in a Sentence

Recent Examples of censure from the Web

censure Has An Offical Connotation

Origin and Etymology of censure

censure Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of censure

CENSURE Defined for English Language Learners

censure

Definition of censure for English Language Learners

censure

Definition of censure for English Language Learners

CENSURE Defined for Kids

censure

Definition of censure for Students

censure

Definition of censure for Students

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censure

legal Definition of censure

censure

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