censure

noun cen·sure \ ˈsen(t)-shər \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: censure in a Sentence

Editor's Note: censure Has An Offical Connotation

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

See censure defined for English-language learners

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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

Dickey, who cast one of the committee’s decisive censure votes, overwhelmingly beat Asche, an opponent of the move to censure the speaker.

— jasper scherer, San Antonio Express-News, "Straus’ presence felt at convention despite his absence," 16 June 2018
Having ousted Mariano Rajoy, the long-serving conservative prime minister, in a parliamentary censure by 180 votes to 169, this week Pedro Sánchez, the Socialist leader, formed a new government.

— The Economist, "Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, assembles a reassuring team," 7 June 2018
Warsaw's measures to restrict the independence of the judiciary have brought censure from Brussels.

— tim lister, CNN, "Europe is on the verge of a big new crisis, just six years after the last one," 2 June 2018
But what drew the most emotional response from a crowd of about 100 of the party faithful gathered this past week at the Harris County Republican Party's headquarters in Houston was the censure of retiring Texas House Speaker Joe Straus.

— scott braddock, Houston Chronicle, "Censure of Speaker Straus a major flashpoint in race to lead the Republican Party of Texas," 31 May 2018
For several years, the women’s rights activists endured the public censure for the freedom of mobility the new outfit provided.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Amelia Bloomer Didn’t Mean to Start a Fashion Revolution, But Her Name Became Synonymous With Trousers," 24 May 2018
Currently, the most severe response to misconduct that council members can dole out is censure.

— jerod macdonald-evoy, azcentral, "Tempe may expand its power to oust a City Council member," 8 May 2018
Stovall was a political piñata for Brehm and her allies, who hated Stovall’s efforts to block a Straus censure.

— gilbert garcia, San Antonio Express-News, "Brehm would lead local GOP further to the fringe," 8 May 2018
Reports recently emerged that Shelby was the target of a censure campaign by backers of Moore, who lost his U.S. Senate bid in December to Democrat Doug Jones.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Shelby's stance against Moore helped state land Toyota plant, BCA chief says," 13 Jan. 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

Trump was also censured for returning the salute of a North Korean general, a sign of respect, in a video recently released by the North Korean government.

— abigail simon, Time, "President Trump Said He Wants People to 'Sit Up at Attention' for Him Like They Do for Kim Jong Un," 15 June 2018
The worst that can happen to Bailey is that he’d be censured.

— john wildermuth, San Francisco Chronicle, "GOP candidate for attorney general muddles on as misconduct hearing looms," 24 May 2018
The Position 1 was formerly held by Josh Townsend who was recently censured by his colleagues on city council for unbecoming behavior.

— david taylor, Houston Chronicle, "Low voter turnout for Uniform elections," 6 May 2018
And that means women, including feminists, are bound to those men such that censuring them is not just difficult, but politically — and therefore practically — perilous.

— rebecca traister, The Cut, "Time’s Up, Bill," 4 June 2018
Parliamentary resolutions in Canada and the European Union also censured those individuals.

— david meyer, Fortune, "The U.S. Investor Behind the Magnitsky Act Says He’s Been Arrested in Spain on a Russian Interpol Warrant," 30 May 2018
There have been cases much worse than Garrett’s: viz, the 1979 unanimous House vote to censure Michigan Democratic representative Charles Diggs, who had been tried and convicted for demanding salary kickbacks from his staff.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Embattled Congressman Accused of Turning Staff Into His Personal Servants," 25 May 2018
Yet she was still censured and removed from all of her legislative committee appointments.

— jason hancock, kansascity, "Swamped in scandal, Greitens faces conflict with his own party | The Kansas City Star," 29 Jan. 2018
Body hair has been censured and policed, giving rise to hair-removal rituals requiring immense time and resources: shaving, waxing, laser hair removal, electrolysis, and more.

— Allure, "7 Women and Femmes Pose for Beautiful Portraits of Their Arm Hair," 9 May 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

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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

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

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censure

legal Definition of censure

censure

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