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condemn

[kuh n-dem]
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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.
  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 declare incurable.
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Origin of condemn

1350–1400; Middle English condempnen < Anglo-French, Old French condem(p)ner < Latin condemnāre. See con-, damn
Related formscon·dem·na·ble [kuh n-dem-nuh-buh l] /kənˈdɛm nə bəl/, adjectivecon·dem·na·bly, adverbcon·demn·er [kuh n-dem-er] /kənˈdɛm ər/, con·dem·nor [kuh n-dem-er, kuh n-dem-nawr] /kənˈdɛm ər, kən dɛmˈnɔr/, nouncon·demn·ing·ly, adverbre·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

Synonyms

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1. See blame.

Antonyms

2. exonerate, liberate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for condemnable

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • All books which meddle with the faith are condemnable and pernicious.

  • Day and night, alone and unattended, I prowled around his casino at S. Mos, nursing this condemnable desire within my breast.

  • Already the incident of the condemnable bandbox had eaten up much invaluable time.

    The Bandbox

    Louis Joseph Vance

  • In itself it is not condemnable; it is a noble or an ignoble ambition, according to the ways and means used to reach that aim.

  • Whispers went round hinting at delays which were condemnable because avoidable if they were real.

    England

    Frank Fox

British Dictionary definitions for condemnable

condemn

verb (tr)
  1. to express strong disapproval of; censure
  2. to pronounce judicial sentence on
  3. to demonstrate the guilt ofhis secretive behaviour condemned him
  4. to judge or pronounce unfit for usethat food has been condemned
  5. to compel or force into a particular state or activityhis disposition condemned him to boredom
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Derived Formscondemnable (kənˈdɛməbəl), adjectivecondemnably, adverbcondemnation, nouncondemner, nouncondemningly, adverb

Word Origin

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

v.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper