censures 1 of 2

noun

plural of censure
as in reprimands
an often public or formal expression of disapproval a rare censure of a senator by the full United States Senate for misconduct

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

censures

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of censure
1
as in condemns
to express public or formal disapproval of a vote to censure the President for conduct that was unbecoming to his office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denounces
to declare to be morally wrong or evil our society generally censures the taking of another person's life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in criticizes
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of critics have striven to outdo each other in censuring that pop novelist's latest work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of censures
Noun
Once rare, censures and expulsions have become more common, particularly in the House. — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Still, the desire to avoid a cycle of censures could prompt even the most moderate Republicans to vote against the censure. — Emily Brooks, The Hill, 22 Feb. 2026 Aside from the financial cost to the city, Blain’s behavior prompted several council actions, including two censures. — Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025 Some rank-and-file lawmakers also agree that censures are losing their punch. — Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2025 Here’s what to know about censures, and what happened this past week. — Connor Greene, Time, 21 Nov. 2025 Jones had sued over his expulsion from the House in 2023 and numerous censures after his reinstatement. — Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for censures
  1. reprimands
  2. condemns
  3. denounces
  4. criticizes
  5. condemnations
  6. punishes
  7. blames
  8. faults
Noun
  • Historically, many referrals have functioned as largely symbolic reprimands.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Jernigan recalled reprimands issued for this sort of lapse but knew of no arrests.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of reprimands
Verb
  • The documentary condemns The Swan for manufacturing reality, while offering its own more morally satisfying reality.
    — Danielle Pergament, Allure, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The government silences critics, shuts down free press and condemns other political parties.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of condemns
Verb
  • As the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises proceed, North Korea denounces them as invasion rehearsals, launches missiles and vows stronger deterrence, even as analysts say scaling back drills could weaken long-term allied readiness.
    — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The project denounces Haiti’s justice system through the story of a woman imprisoned for years without trial and later judged not by law, but by scripture.
    — Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of denounces
Verb
  • One candidate promises to lower gas and grocery prices and criticizes the incumbent for not doing so (as if politicians can control the market).
    — Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Reddington says the defense won the case and criticizes the holdout juror.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of criticizes
Noun
  • Regrets his votes for Hegseth and Kennedy The book is filled with cuss words and condemnations.
    — Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Recent campaign filings by the Yes on Proposition 45 campaign revealed two donations that quickly drew condemnations from Democratic leaders.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of condemnations
Verb
  • This type of leader isn’t likely to emerge in a political culture that rewards antics and showmanship and punishes seriousness and integrity.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 12 Oct. 2026
  • That timeline rewards commitment and punishes constant switching, which is how most routines fail.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of punishes
Verb
  • Within days, her complaint – which names fraternity members and others, and blames Cornell and its police department for failure to act on her original report – became a focus of intense public attention.
    — Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But the British Beer & Pub Association blames tax and overheads, and across the EU, the share of beer drunk in pubs, bars, and restaurants has stopped shrinking after years of decline.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of blames
Verb
  • The report specifically faults the Ohio Department of Development's oversight, as well as actions by local affiliates, including the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network in Cleveland and Ohio State University South Centers in Piketon.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Foulkes faults McKee on energy policy Democratic primary challenger Helena Foulkes' campaign said the emergency declaration is a sign things are not going well.
    — Patrick Anderson, The Providence Journal, 24 July 2026
Definition of faults

Browse Nearby Words

censurers
censures
censuring
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Censures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/censures. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zenith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All