condemn

[ kuhn-dem ]

/ kənˈdɛm /

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verb (used with object)

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

to pronounce to be guilty; sentence to punishment: to condemn a murderer to life imprisonment.

to give grounds or reason for convicting or censuring: His acts condemn him.

to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service:to condemn an old building.

U.S. Law. to acquire ownership of for a public purpose, under the right of eminent domain: The city condemned the property.

to force into a specific state or activity: His lack of education condemned him to a life of menial jobs.

to declare incurable.

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Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Origin of condemn

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

ANTONYMS FOR condemn

2 exonerate, exculpate, liberate.

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synonym study for condemn

1. See blame.

OTHER WORDS FROM condemn

con·dem·na·ble

[kuhn-dem-nuh-buhl], /kənˈdɛm nə bəl/, adjectivecon·dem·na·bly, adverbcon·demn·er

[kuhn-dem-er], /kənˈdɛm ər/, con·dem·nor

[kuhn-dem-er, kuhn-dem-nawr], /kənˈdɛm ər, kən dɛmˈnɔr/, nouncon·demn·ing·ly, adverb

re·con·demn, verb (used with object)self-con·demned, adjectiveself-con·demn·ing, adjectiveun·con·dem·na·ble, adjectiveun·con·demned, adjectiveun·con·demn·ing, adjectiveun·con·demn·ing·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH condemn

1. blame, censure, condemn (see synonym study at blame); 2. condemn , contemn.

Words nearby condemn

concussion, concussion grenade, concyclic, cond., Condé, condemn, condemnation, condemnatory, condemned cell, condensable, condensate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for condemn

The campaign included a push for the World Health Organization to condemn gay-conversion therapy.
China’s Electroshock Gay-Conversion Case|Nina Strochlic|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dean Teresa A. Sullivan praised the “overwhelming response by this community to condemn the evil acts” reported by Rolling Stone.
Why It Was Right to Question Rolling Stone’s U-VA Rape Story|Michael Moynihan|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is it the one where we condemn the genocide of Native Americans?
Are Politicians Too Dumb to Understand the Lyrics to ‘Born in the USA’?|Parker Molloy|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It may come as a surprise then that Scott and, particularly Sata, have refused to condemn Mugabe.
Democratic Africa Gets Its First White Leader|Nico Hines|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I condemn this action from the viewpoint of the Guards and the [paramilitary] Basij.
Acid Attacks on Women Spread Terror in Iran|IranWire|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But he did not condemn them; he simply felt he could not live in contact with them.
Cleo The Magnificent|Louis Zangwill
Yet none but an enthusiast or fanatic could condemn it as iniquitous.
The Conspiracy of Pontiac and the Indian War after the Conquest of Canada|Francis Parkman
I shall not speak much to these things for which I am condemned, lest I seem to condemn others.
Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies)|John Howie
To convict and condemn the poor peasants, of whom no one would think twice, was a mere trifle.
The Honor of the Name|Emile Gaboriau
The council being consulted, commanded the inquisitors to condemn and punish the accused as an homicide.
The History of the Inquisition of Spain from the Time of its Establishment to the Reign of Ferdinand VII.|Juan Antonio Llorente

British Dictionary definitions for condemn

condemn

/ (kənˈdɛm) /

verb (tr)

to express strong disapproval of; censure

to pronounce judicial sentence on

to demonstrate the guilt ofhis secretive behaviour condemned him

to judge or pronounce unfit for usethat food has been condemned

to compel or force into a particular state or activityhis disposition condemned him to boredom

Derived forms of condemn

condemnable (kənˈdɛməbəl), adjectivecondemnably, adverbcondemnation, nouncondemner, noun

condemningly, adverb

Word Origin for condemn

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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condemn

verb (used with object)

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Origin of condemn

ANTONYMS FOR condemn

synonym study for condemn

OTHER WORDS FROM condemn

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Example sentences from the Web for condemn

British Dictionary definitions for condemn

verb (tr)

Derived forms of condemn

Word Origin for condemn

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

condemn

verb (used with object)

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of condemn

ANTONYMS FOR condemn

synonym study for condemn

OTHER WORDS FROM condemn

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH condemn

Words nearby condemn

Words related to condemn

Example sentences from the Web for condemn

British Dictionary definitions for condemn

verb (tr)

Derived forms of condemn

Word Origin for condemn