condemn

con·demn | \ kən-ˈdem

How to pronounce condemn (audio)

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condemned; condemning; condemns

Definition of condemn

transitive verb

1 : to declare to be reprehensible, wrong, or evil usually after weighing evidence and without reservation a policy widely condemned as racist

2a : to pronounce guilty : convict

b : sentence, doom condemn a prisoner to die

3 : to adjudge unfit for use or consumption condemn an old apartment building

4 : to declare convertible to public use under the right of eminent domain

Other Words from condemn Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about condemn

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Choose the Right Synonym for condemn

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

Examples of condemn in a Sentence

We strongly condemn this attack against our allies. The government condemns all acts of terrorism. The country condemns the use of violence on prisoners. The school condemns cheating, and any student caught cheating will be expelled. City officials condemned our apartment building and forced us to leave.

Recent Examples on the Web The biggest argument used by those who oppose cancel culture is that a trial by public opinion can condemn someone to a lifetime of shame without proof. — Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, "Mel Gibson’s 2020 Is Loaded With Projects. But, Uh, Wasn’t He Cancelled?," 22 Jan. 2020 Her home was one of five adjacent properties on the 1900 block of Hollins St. that were demolished just six days after the homes were condemned by the city. — Hallie Miller, baltimoresun.com, "City razes Baltimore home with 6 days’ notice. ‘She would be left with nothing if we didn’t open our mouths.’," 25 Nov. 2019 And the range of conduct that would previously be condemned by courts as anti-competitive decreased and the proof required to demonstrate harm to plaintiffs increased. — Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, The Conversation, "How the T-Mobile-Sprint merger will increase inequality," 11 Feb. 2020 Five pounds of homemade green salsa was condemned at a Houston area food truck last week, according to health inspection records. — Michelle Iracheta, Houston Chronicle, "5 lbs. of condemned green salsa highlights Houston food truck violations (Jan 27 to Feb 2)," 7 Feb. 2020 The house has been condemned several times but always gets brought back up to code, Sgt. — Fox News, "Oklahoma homeowner kills suspected intruder in self defense, police say," 5 Feb. 2020 The use of duplicate sheets to determine the winner was also condemned by the court. — Rabson Kondowe, Quartz Africa, "Malawi’s constitutional court has annulled its presidential election results seven months later," 3 Feb. 2020 Morrison returned to Australia, but his response to the wildfires has been widely condemned as slow and ineffective. — Amanda Schaffer, The New Yorker, "The Firefighter Whose Denunciation of Australia’s Prime Minister Made Him a Folk Hero," 18 Jan. 2020 Then in 2018, in a mass trial of over 700 defendants widely condemned by human rights organizations, Kassem was sentenced to 15 years under a contentious anti-protest law. — NBC News, "U.S. citizen dies in Egyptian prison after hunger strike," 14 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'condemn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

15 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Condemn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condemn. Accessed 25 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for condemn

condemn

verb

English Language Learners Definition of condemn

: to say in a strong and definite way that someone or something is bad or wrong

: to give (someone) a usually severe punishment

: to cause (someone) to suffer or live in difficult or unpleasant conditions

See the full definition for condemn in the English Language Learners Dictionary

condemn

con·demn | \ kən-ˈdem

\

condemned; condemning

Kids Definition of condemn

1 : to cause to suffer or live in difficult or unpleasant conditions She was condemned to spend her summer in a cast.

2 : to sentence to a usually severe punishment The criminals were condemned and punished.

3 : to declare to be wrong School policy condemns cheating.

4 : to declare to be unfit for use condemn a house

condemn

transitive verb

con·demn | \ kən-ˈdem

\

Legal Definition of condemn

1 : to impose a penalty on especially : to sentence to death

2 : to adjudge unfit for use or consumption

3 : to declare convertible to public use under the right of eminent domain : take

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