condemn

verb

con·demn | \ kən-ˈdem

condemned; condemning; condemns

Definition of condemn

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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Other words from condemn

condemnable \kən-ˈdem-nə-bəl,

-ˈde-mə- \ adjective

condemnatory \kən-ˈdem-nə-ˌtȯr-ē,

-ˈde-mə- \ adjective

condemner \kən-ˈde-mər

\ or condemnor \kən-ˈde-mər;

kən-ˌdem-ˈnȯr, ˌkän- \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for condemn

Synonyms

blame, censure, criticize, denounce, fault, knock, pan, reprehend

Antonyms

extol (also extoll), laud, praise

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

Now the Trump administration is pitching a new message on anti-poverty programs, saying efforts that Republicans had long condemned as ineffective have already worked. — Jeff Stein And Tracy Jan, chicagotribune.com, "White House declares war on poverty 'largely over' amid push to revamp social programs," 14 July 2018 Foreign leaders from Brussels to New Delhi shared compassion and support for those hurt, while condemning the killers. — David Lammy, Time, "I'm a British Lawmaker. Here's Why I’m Protesting Trump’s Visit to the U.K.," 10 July 2018 Not all the details of their accounts could be independently confirmed, but their stories — which raise reasonable doubts over their guilt — were not closely examined in court before they were condemned to die. — Hamza Hendawi, Washington Post, "A neighbor’s word can bring death sentence in Iraq IS trials," 9 July 2018 Not all the details of their accounts could be independently confirmed, but their stories — which raise reasonable doubts over their guilt — were not closely examined in court before they were condemned to die, underscoring the system's weakness. — Hamza Hendawi, Fox News, "A neighbor's word can bring death sentence in Iraq IS trials," 9 July 2018 One of the most refreshing things about living in Europe (or small towns in the rural US) is knowing that the poor aren’t condemned to a completely separate, and inferior, life. — Antonio García Martínez, WIRED, "How Silicon Valley Fuels an Informal Caste System," 9 July 2018 Last August, after one person was killed at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., critics protested that President Donald Trump didn’t condemn the violence strongly enough. — Sarah Nassauer, WSJ, "Walmart Takes a Stand on Guns, Gay Rights to Get People to Like It More," 5 July 2018 For years, Pyongyang has repeatedly and routinely condemned the exercises as a hostile act. — Zhe Huang, Bloomberg.com, "North Korea Steps Up Production of Uranium Fuel, NBC Reports," 30 June 2018 Media: Buzz 60 The legal case is unfolding even as condemned Texas killer Danny Bible is challenging his own pending execution, arguing his veins are so bad he can't be put to death. — Keri Blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Arkansas death row inmates want to know where Texas gets its death drugs," 26 June 2018

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.