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

However, others felt that the censure was unwarranted. — Janine Puhak, Fox News, "Woman with chin tattoo accused of appropriating native New Zealand culture," 25 May 2018 Public discussion of Chinese history is already curtailed by party oversight and the potential censure or dismissal of dissident scholars. — Chun Han Wong, WSJ, "China Guards Its Historical Heroes With New Law," 27 Apr. 2018 Davis said censure was the only recourse allowed under law for the council. — David Taylor, Houston Chronicle, "Dayton council censures colleague after allegations from city employee," 17 Apr. 2018 If the goal of the censure was to pressure McCain to retire, the rebuke may have had the opposite effect. — Dan Nowicki, azcentral, "John McCain wins 6th Arizona Senate term, reclaims 'maverick' label," 2 Apr. 2018 The idea of expanding the use of the censure as a tool of coercion or settling acrimony makes some wary, including San Antonio Tea Party board member Grant Moody. — Jasper Scherer, San Antonio Express-News, "As factions fight for control of Texas Republican Party, battle already decided in Bexar County," 13 June 2018 Therefore, the Council is considering for action possible censure of this council member. — Nashelly Chavez, sacbee, "Citrus Heights council looks at censuring member Bret Daniels over stalking allegations," 7 June 2018 Israel has drawn international censure for using live fire against the mostly unarmed protesters who did not appear to present any immediately life-threatening danger to the soldiers. — Isabel Kershner And Iyad Abuheweila, New York Times, "Gaza Protest Draws Fewer People but Remains Deadly," 20 Apr. 2018 If one eludes the trap of picking wife or mistress, there is still the task of distilling critique from moral censure. — Dana Snitzky, Longreads, "Hemingway’s Last Girl," 12 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Between censuring campaign reporters for their hot takes based on single polls and predicting election results in late-night primaries, Morris tweets about his undergraduate finals and pulling all-nighters with tubs of ice cream. — Tara Golshan, Vox, "How a 21-year-old college senior became the breakout star of 2018 election forecasting," 1 June 2018 Sanford was censured by the South Carolina House of Representatives, but served out the remainder of his second term. — Fox News, "Trump says South Carolina Rep. Sanford 'better off in Argentina,' endorses primary challenger," 12 June 2018 While the final stage is likely to be vetoed by at least one member, Poland would still suffer a stigma from being censured. — Dov Lieber, WSJ, "Poland Backs Down on Holocaust Bill After International Criticism," 27 June 2018 Katherine Cooley, an assistant to the Citrus Heights city manager, said council members would not make any comments about the resolution to publicly censure Daniels before the open session planned for Thursday afternoon. — Nashelly Chavez, sacbee, "Citrus Heights council looks at censuring member Bret Daniels over stalking allegations," 7 June 2018 To continue reading this story, TRY IT NOW The advisers all agreed to be censured and to pay a $75,000 fine, but did not admit or deny the findings, according to the release. — Richard Webner, San Antonio Express-News, "Biglari company hit with federal fine for lack of public disclosure," 1 June 2018 But for his deceptive, demoralizing and dangerous assault on the FBI - an institution that, like the Army, is dedicated to defending America - Nunes, too, deserves to be censured by his colleagues and stripped of his chairmanship. — chicagotribune.com, "Congress should censure Nunes; just like McCarthy," 6 Feb. 2018 The board can discipline teachers found guilty of misconduct by censuring them in minor cases and suspending or removing their teaching certificates in more severe cases. — Ricardo Cano, azcentral, "Board of Education drops discussion about punishing #RedForEd teachers over walkout," 22 June 2018 The meeting was disrupted by Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld of Ohev Sholom Synagogue in Northwest Washington, who entered the room and denounced the council for not censuring White or taking a harder line against Lopez’s event. — Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, "Bowser appointee resigns after organizing rally where a lawmaker was called a ‘fake Jew’," 1 May 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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