censure

noun cen·sure \ ˈsen(t)-shər \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of censure

1 : a judgment involving condemnation

unorthodox practices awaiting the censure of the city council

2 : the act of blaming or condemning sternly

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

3 : an official reprimand

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

4 archaic : opinion, judgment

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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

That too brought censure from my wife, but apparent support from a hungry crowd.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "Forget manners when racking up deficit," 16 Apr. 2018
In the rough-and-ready labyrinths of social media, too, users clothed in anonymity have been reviving racist pseudoscience and conspiracy theories, without the fear of public censure or social ostracization.

— sara miller llana, The Christian Science Monitor, "An old beast re-awoken, anti-Semitism stalks Europe, US once more," 11 Apr. 2018
At the time, Otterman was already under censure imposed by the board last November.

— jennifer conn, akron reporter, cleveland.com, "Akron School Board narrows field to 17 candidates for vacant seat," 12 Feb. 2018
In a statement cited by the network, Richmond and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the top Democrat in the House Judiciary Committee, announced a plan to seek censure of the president.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Republicans in immigrant-rich Florida scramble in wake of Trump's vulgar remark," 13 Jan. 2018
In 1980, Section 13 served as the basis for the House’s formal censure of then-Rep.

— jon lender, courant.com, "Jon Lender: CT Constitution Says Reps Can Be Expelled; Will It Happen To Arce If Standoff Continues?," 17 Mar. 2018
That committee could make a report of bad behavior public, and could recommend the full House reprimand, censure, or expel a member.

— joshua miller and matt stout, BostonGlobe.com, "House set to create office to investigate misconduct claims," 15 Mar. 2018
Perry issued a memo in April accusing the previous administration of implementing policies that destroyed jobs and made the coal industry unprofitable, never mentioning renewable energy but hinting at a censure of its rise.

— megan geuss, Ars Technica, "Federal regulator denies Rick Perry’s proposal to compensate coal, nuclear [updated]," 8 Jan. 2018
But the prospect of encouraging the dialect in the classroom elicited national, and near-universal, censure.

— william brennan, The Atlantic, "Julie Washington’s Quest to Get Schools to Respect African-American English," 8 Mar. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

censure Synonyms

censure

verb

Definition of censure

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

transitive verb

1 a : to find fault with and criticize as blameworthy

She would tell him it was … no sign of a good pastor to be eternally censuring his flock.
—Charlotte Brontë

b : to formally reprimand (someone) : to express official censure of (someone)

While a vote to censure the president has no legal ramifications, it is a significant and rare symbolic vote of disapproval.
—Emma Loop

2 obsolete : estimate, judge

—

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

The university has not censured Croce, but school officials, stung by the article, hired a law firm to conduct a review of how the institution dealt with allegations of research misconduct, including those against Croce.

— alison mccook, Science | AAAS, "Why The Ohio State University decided to go public about misconduct," 5 Apr. 2018
And he's noticed with chagrin the vocal criticism of Ann Coulter, the right-wing firebrand who has publicly censured Trump for falling short on his immigration promises.

— kevin liptak, CNN, "At Mar-a-Lago, Trump hears from immigration hardliners," 2 Apr. 2018
Timothy Schwartz, who authored the state GOP and Maricopa County GOP resolutions censuring McCain, was dumped as Legislative District 30 GOP chairman in December 2014.

— dan nowicki, azcentral, "John McCain wins 6th Arizona Senate term, reclaims 'maverick' label," 2 Apr. 2018
Candidates for trustee campaigned last fall on cleaning up the board's ethics, and separately, another trustee has lobbed lawsuits against board members over the last year and was censured in January.

— lindsay ellis, Houston Chronicle, "A textbook-free future at HCC? Maldonado discusses at State of the College," 2 Mar. 2018
In the Q&A session, Yellen defended her decision, late in her term, to impose unusual restrictions on Wells Fargo & Co. after the bank was repeatedly censured for ripping off customers.

— joseph n. distefano, Philly.com, "Janet Yellen at Wharton: Ex-Fed head, deserted by Trump, praises her successor," 19 Mar. 2018
Wylie, who described Cambridge Analytica as a weapon designed to wage a culture war in the U.S., said Facebook wasn't particularly adamant about censuring his former company.

— david pierson, latimes.com, "Exploiting Facebook data to influence voters? That’s a feature, not a bug, of the social network," 18 Mar. 2018
Forty-nine Russians have been censured since 2012, the State Department said in December.

— jason douglas, WSJ, "U.K. to Pass Version of U.S. Magnitsky Act, Targeting Russia After Poisoning," 14 Mar. 2018
In addition to local challenges, the State Republican Executive Committee has censured retiring GOP House Speaker Joe Straus for blocking some priorities of party leadership.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "The GOP Monster Is Out of the Lab," 9 Feb. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

censure Synonyms

Synonyms

blame, condemn, criticize, denounce, fault, knock, pan, reprehend;

Antonyms

extol (also extoll), laud, praise;

Near Antonyms

approve, commend, endorse (also indorse), recommend, sanction;

Related Words

skewer, tweak;

assail, attack, blast, clobber, slam, slash;

nick (at), snipe (at);

beef, bellyache, carp, cavil, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, quibble, whine;

admonish, chide, drub, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove;

berate, castigate, crucify, excoriate, flay, gibbet, hammer, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lash, pillory, scold, upbraid;

bad-mouth, belittle, decry, deride, discommend, disparage, put down;

Phrases

come down hard (on), find fault (with), take to task;

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

Definition of censure

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

Examples of censure in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of censure

censure Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

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

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

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

Law Dictionary

censure

legal Definition of censure

censure

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