censure

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 These comments have contributed to speculation that Congress could pursue censure, as Manchin proposed. — Author: Elise Viebeck, Mike Debonis, Robert Costa, Anchorage Daily News, "House prosecutors, Trump’s team offer competing arguments to Senate largely decided on verdict," 4 Feb. 2020 No other President, whether there was available proof of a criminal conspiracy or not, could have avoided political censure at a minimum for welcoming Russia’s help in a U.S. election and obstructing investigation into it. — Time, "If the Senate Doesn't Hold Trump Accountable, the Damage Will Go Far Beyond This Presidency," 29 Jan. 2020 So, to avoid censure, Speaker Pelosi will become the champion of impeachment. — Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, "Why Pelosi Continues to Deflect the Censure Gambit," 22 June 2019 The former four-term U.S. senator — and the first to endorse Trump — faces a competitive primary that will test how much Trump’s censure has damaged his support in deeply red Alabama. — Kim Chandler, SFChronicle.com, "Jeff Sessions, former US attorney general, touts Trump loyalty in Alabama race," 25 Jan. 2020 One sign of the hardening of partisan lines is that, in the case of Trump, support for censure is not statistically higher than support for impeachment. — BostonGlobe.com, "Americans locked in partisan stalemate on removing Trump from office, Post-ABC poll finds - The Boston Globe," 18 Dec. 2019 North Korea has this year continually blamed the US for the lack of progress in nuclear negotiations, singling out Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security adviser John Bolton for censure. — Joshua Berlinger, CNN, "Trump's 'Rocket Man' comments 'displeased' Kim Jong Un, North Korean army chief says," 4 Dec. 2019 Even as Dolce spoke, surrounded by tailors and seamstresses both Chinese and Italian, the posts that catalyzed the show’s abrupt cancellation was attracting censure online. — Vogue, "Dolce & Gabbana Cancels Its Shanghai Great Show Amid Controversy," 21 Nov. 2018 The move has met with widespread international censure, including U.S. and European Union sanctions on Russia. — SFChronicle.com, "News of the Day From Around the World," 23 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The Senate voted unanimously to censure him, making it the first time in 14 years the chamber had disciplined one of its own. — USA TODAY, "Puppy wins lotto, alligators, mountain lions, Dunkin Donuts wedding: News from around our 50 states," 30 Dec. 2019 There is only one practical way for this episode to end without Trump claiming total vindication: After he’s impeached by the House, senators of both parties should come together to censure him. — Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, "Other voices: The rebuke to Trump that both parties should deliver," 18 Dec. 2019 The board voted to censure him in May, barring him for two years from all school board events, except meetings, and all campus events, except those where his children attended. — Ashley Mcbride, ExpressNews.com, "NEISD hears from three new trustee candidates during extended application period," 6 Nov. 2019 Those who don’t abide by the policies could be removed from city premises, and city officials could be reprimanded or censured. — Lilly Nguyen, Daily Pilot, "Laguna Beach resolution outlines new policies for civility among officials and public," 18 Sep. 2019 Softer option: Politico reporters Burgess Everett and Melanie Zanona interviewed Republicans in Congress about possibly censuring President Donald Trump, instead of doing nothing or going the impeachment route of House Democrats. — Laura Hancock, cleveland, "Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office proposes plan to pool opioid settlement money: Capitol Letter," 6 Dec. 2019 Highlights from the show: In an effort to sway public opinion in his favor, McCarthy denounced the Senate's move in censuring him as ''a lynch party . . . — CBS News, "Transcript: Joe McCarthy talks Senate censure on "Face the Nation" November 7, 1954," 7 Nov. 2019 Late Monday, Democrats in the House voted to kill a resolution supported by Republicans that would have censured Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. — Emily Tillett, CBS News, "Trump urges Republicans to get tougher on impeachment — live updates," 21 Oct. 2019 Democrats have also introduced measures that would censure Mr. King, a more formal admonishment against the lawmaker. — Reid J. Epstein, WSJ, "House Lawmakers Formally Admonish Rep. Steve King for Racist Comments," 15 Jan. 2019

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.