condemn

[kuhn-dem]

verb (used with object)

1. to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; indicate strong disapproval of; censure.

2. to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment.

   to condemn a murderer to life imprisonment.

   Antonyms: liberate, exculpate, exonerate

3. to give grounds or reason for convicting or censuring.

   His acts condemn him.

4. to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service.

   to condemn an old building.

5. U.S. Law.,  to acquire ownership of for a public purpose, under the right of eminent domain.

   The city condemned the property.

6. to force into a specific state or activity.

   His lack of education condemned him to a life of menial jobs.

7. to doom to eternal punishment in hell.

8. to declare incurable.

condemn

/ kənˈdɛm, kənˈdɛməbəl /

verb

1. to express strong disapproval of; censure

2. to pronounce judicial sentence on

3. to demonstrate the guilt of

   his secretive behaviour condemned him

4. to judge or pronounce unfit for use

   that food has been condemned

5. to compel or force into a particular state or activity

   his disposition condemned him to boredom

Other Word Forms

• condemnation noun
• condemningly adverb
• condemner noun
• condemnable adjective
• condemnably adverb
• condemnor noun
• recondemn verb (used with object)
• self-condemning adjective
• uncondemnable adjective
• uncondemning adjective
• uncondemningly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of condemn¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English condempnen, from Anglo-French, Old French condem(p)ner, from Latin condemnāre; con-, damn

Word History and Origins

Origin of condemn¹

C13: from Old French condempner, from Latin condemnāre, from damnāre to condemn; see _damn

Synonym Study

See blame.

Example Sentences

US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus said the text did not go far enough in condemning Hamas or recognise Israel's right to defend itself.

From BBC

The move was quickly condemned by Hollywood unions, progressive groups, free speech organizations and Democratic politicians.

From Los Angeles Times

Writers, actors, former US President Barack Obama and other prominent Democrats condemned Kimmel's suspension.

From BBC

Starmer condemned recent Russian missile attacks that saw damage to the British Council building in Kyiv, and said the recent actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin were not those of someone who wants peace.

From BBC

Paxton condemned the ruling as a constitutional crisis, slamming the court’s “activist judges,” along with the all-GOP Texas Supreme Court for declining to step in.

From Salon

Related Words

• castigate 
• censure 
• chide 
• criticize 
• decry 
• denounce 
• punish 
• sentence