as in captious
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in reprimanding
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 denouncing
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 criticizing
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 censuring
Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Those choices included censuring and sanctioning me, a military veteran commissioned through CU Boulder, the only Black Regent, and the first Black woman to serve on the board in 43 years.
—Wanda James, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
The House voted against censuring Plaskett in a 209-214-3 vote.
—Connor Greene, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
But, honestly, Meyers added, he wasn’t bothered by the attack, which is the latest in a line of Truth Social posts Trump has made censuring the comic.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 Nov. 2025
This could include sanctioning, censuring or suspending a judge, or recommending a judge be removed from office.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2023, the House, then run by Republicans, took the extraordinary step of censuring Schiff.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The inscriptions also reference El, a deity associated with the Abrahamic God, while censuring the ancient pagan goddess Ba`alat.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
Brown, the lone vote against Martinez’s item, said offering trainings to all councilmembers without mandating it for the mayor and not censuring him absolved Martinez of accountability.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Those choices included censuring and sanctioning me, a military veteran commissioned through CU Boulder, the only Black Regent, and the first Black woman to serve on the board in 43 years.
—Wanda James, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
The House voted against censuring Plaskett in a 209-214-3 vote.
—Connor Greene, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
But, honestly, Meyers added, he wasn’t bothered by the attack, which is the latest in a line of Truth Social posts Trump has made censuring the comic.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 Nov. 2025
This could include sanctioning, censuring or suspending a judge, or recommending a judge be removed from office.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2023, the House, then run by Republicans, took the extraordinary step of censuring Schiff.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The inscriptions also reference El, a deity associated with the Abrahamic God, while censuring the ancient pagan goddess Ba`alat.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for censuring
Adjective
-
So much of the new sobriety flex is anathema to the captious alcoholics of 12-step groups.—
Virginia Heffernan,
Wired,
19 Apr. 2022
-
That a right-wing party traditionally captious about American patriotism did not react heatedly to evidence of Russian interference in US elections is bizarre.—
Darryl Pinckney,
The New York Review of Books,
5 Nov. 2020
Verb
-
Harnessing the camp of countless Drag Race acting challenges that came before her, Jujubee films a close-up reaction to a group of rowdy passengers reprimanding her, escalating the moment until her face is full-on twitching before a physical confrontation.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Censures, a means of formally reprimanding a lawmaker without going so far as to expel them, have historically been rare; in the 200 years after Congress first convened, only 22 House members were censured.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In addition to Brooks’s attack on Sumner, Quincy noted that a Tennessee minister had been forced to leave his church after denouncing the beating of an enslaved person, and a Virginia politician had been barred from returning home after attending a northern political convention.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Additionally, the Town at its January 27 meeting approved a resolution denouncing any sort of detention or processing center.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sun Sentinel commentary criticizing legislation that would allow Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System to collaborate overlooks the real needs of patients, and the data before us.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Some of the very people criticizing you are the ones asking for more access.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Damage was further done after Harry issued a statement condemning the online coverage Meghan had received without first consulting Charles or William.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Criticizing a state was not the same as condemning a people.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Deranque's death triggered a storm of recriminations, mostly blaming France Unbowed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Trump has singled out Moore for criticism, blaming him for a Potomac sewage spill, assailing his handing of Baltimore's bridge collapse and invoking a controversy over his military record.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And while criticism of insurance companies was bipartisan, Republicans and Democrats also blamed one another for the crisis, with the GOP faulting Obamacare and Democrats accusing Republicans of using the hearings to deflect from their own inaction to address rising premiums.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Some Havana Syndrome victims have spent more than a decade trying to draw attention to their cases, often faulting the government for failing to provide enough support or access to specialized medical care.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After learning the risks and dangers of the Colorado Rockies’ backcountry from a loving but complicated mother, Zach Fisher, a sensitive 12-year-old, joins Bram, his hypercritical father, on a father/son ski trip.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
And while the shoes’ combination of hypercritical foams and carbon fiber is primarily intended for race days, technology tends to trickle down to sneakers for every day, recovery and tempo runs — creating a ripple effect across the marketplace.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Censuring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/censuring. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
