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
-
Hart was reprimanding Ross for doing what is the most offensive thing a comedian can do — suck up to the most important person in the room — and enforcing an old ethic in comedy, which is not apologizing for your jokes.—
Robert Lynch,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Indeed, Ye didn’t say much of anything during the two-hour concert beyond a number of reprimanding comments directed at his stage crew.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Both Mexico City and Guadalajara are preparing to host World Cup games in June, with protesters in both cities denouncing the government's failure to properly investigate the disappearances.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The pope has been outspoken against the Middle East conflict, urging peace and denouncing attacks on civilians.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor apologized Wednesday for publicly criticizing Justice Brett Kavanaugh over a ruling on immigration stops — and seeming to imply that her conservative colleague's views were shaped by an out-of-touch upbringing.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Victoria Beckham is speaking out about her family in the wake of her son Brooklyn Beckham's comments criticizing his parents earlier this year.—
Mason Leib,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The spike in deaths has rattled the international community, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemning the situation and demanding a thorough inspection of conditions at ICE facilities.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The remarks are the latest in a series of comments condemning international violence.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Both Hilton and Bianco gave the governor an F, blaming the crisis on drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Though the official inquest failed to determine whether Zac jumped to escape danger or to kill himself, The New Yorker’s Keefe winds up blaming the death on the corruption of London in recent decades by oligarchs, con men, and international criminals.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 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
-
Emond, as Suzanna’s hypercritical mother, puts an Olympic-level spin on her withering observations.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Censuring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/censuring. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
