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.

Nearby words

Origin of condemn

1350–1400; Middle English condempnen < Anglo-French, Old French condem(p)ner < Latin condemnāre. See con-, damn

SYNONYMS FOR condemn

1. See blame.

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ANTONYMS FOR condemn

2. exonerate, liberate.

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Related forms

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

Can be confusedblame censure condemn (see synonym study at blame)condemn contemn

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for condemnable

How could this dazzling creature have done something so condemnable.
Spilling My Family's Secrets|Frances Osborne|May 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Wherefore every state of an idle or indolent life is condemnable; such for instance as the life of monks and nuns.
Commentary on Genesis, Vol. I|Martin Luther
There are (says the mystic) two forms of “humility”: detestable both, and condemnable.
William Blake|Algernon Charles Swinburne
Day and night, alone and unattended, I prowled around his casino at S. Mos, nursing this condemnable desire within my breast.
The Memoirs of Count Carlo Gozzi|Count Carlo Gozzi

All books which meddle with the faith are condemnable and pernicious.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete|Emile Zola
Stranger still, her harsher qualities appeared where her manner of life was lawful, and her finer ones where it was condemnable.
Not Pretty, But Precious|John Hay, et al.

British Dictionary definitions for condemnable

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

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

Word Origin and History for condemnable

condemn

early 14c., condempner "to blame, censure," from Old French condamner "to condemn" (11c.), from Latin condemnare "to sentence, doom, blame, disapprove," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + damnare "to harm, damage" (see damn). Replaced Old English fordeman. Related: Condemned; condemning.

condemn

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of condemn

Examples from the Web for condemnable

condemn

verb (tr)

Word Origin for condemn

condemn