censure

noun

cen·sure | \ ˈsen(t)-shər

Definition of censure

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

censure

verb

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

Definition of censure (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

Other Words from censure Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Censure Has an Offical Connotation More Example Sentences Learn More about censure

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Choose the Right Synonym for censure

Verb

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 Has an Offical Connotation

Verb

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."

Examples of censure in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

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 on the Web: Noun

Those threats were unique and cause for censure, but not the only reckless language in the mix. — oregonlive.com, "The death rattle of the Oregon Republican Party: Steve Duin," 25 June 2019 Repercussions from Symons’ censure are unfolding in Superior Court. — Michael Todd, The Mercury News, "Santa Cruz attorneys confirm Superior Court judge’s misconduct," 24 June 2019 But failing to combat, or even merely censure, slavery is one thing; purchasing one’s own enslaved humans, or trading in their enslavement, is another. — Sarah Churchwell, The New York Review of Books, "‘The Lehman Trilogy’ and Wall Street’s Debt to Slavery," 11 June 2019 Tassell said censure's purpose is to address the behavior with the council so it can be corrected. — Sam Rosenstiel, Cincinnati.com, "'If you think Trump's got it bad...' Deer Park Councilman reprimanded for personal attacks: says move meant to humiliate," 28 June 2018 The proposed censure agreement made with House managers had been announced earlier Tuesday. — Fox News, "4 impeached West Virginia justices to face trials," 12 Sep. 2018 Others have escaped public censure — except, perhaps, in the headlines. — Alan Feuer, New York Times, "Tracking Graft, From the Bootlegger to the Mayor," 27 Apr. 2018 In 2004, Chávez passed a law allowing the official censure of outlets by a state watchdog, CONATEL. — Rachelle Krygier, Washington Post, "As it slides toward authoritarianism, Venezuela targets one of its last independent newspapers," 5 July 2018 But there was a time when the line between private and public was unyielding and those who crossed it faced censure. — Nancy Mcdonell, WSJ, "The Surprisingly Rich History of Women’s Underwear as Outerwear," 13 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Congress can’t even censure one of its own for being anti-Semitic. — WSJ, "Can Congress Credibly Censure President Trump?," 11 June 2019 The vote came after Senate President Mitch Carmichael ruled a separate resolution to censure justices Beth Walker and Margaret Workman instead of subjecting them to impeachment trials was out of order. — Fox News, "4 impeached West Virginia justices to face trials," 12 Sep. 2018 The commission first censured the Ritz in 2004, issuing a cease-and-desist order accusing the hotel of failing to provide 25 public spaces in its garage. — Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Half Moon Bay Ritz-Carlton ordered to quit impeding beach access," 13 June 2019 MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi has long been censured in the West for her refusal to defend the rights of the Rohingya Muslim minority in her country. — Isabella Steger, Quartz, "Aung San Suu Kyi and Viktor Orban bonded over a mutual dislike of Muslims," 6 June 2019 Members make Europe-wide law, decide international agreements, and — crucially — can censure EU countries for violating core values such as an independent judiciary and upholding the rights of minorities and migrants. — Lori Hinnant, The Seattle Times, "Tech could unite Europe’s populists ahead of EU vote in May," 19 Feb. 2019 The United Nations Human Rights Council voted last Friday to censure Israel for disproportionate use of force. — Herbert Buchsbaum, New York Times, "Israeli Video Portrays Medic Killed in Gaza as Tool of Hamas," 7 June 2018 No lawmaker has been censured for comments made to a newspaper. — Natalie Andrews, WSJ, "House GOP Removes Steve King From Panels Following Comments on White Supremacy," 14 Jan. 2019 Writers and artists would be censured at the whim of government. — Fox News, "Reps. Meadows, Jordan call on Rosenstein to testify," 27 Sep. 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.

History and Etymology for censure

Noun

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 censor entry 1

Verb

derivative of censure entry 1, probably after Middle French censurer

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