condemn

[ kuhn-dem ]

/ kənˈdɛm /

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See synonyms for: condemn / condemned / condemning / condemnable on Thesaurus.com

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 doom to eternal punishment in hell.

to declare incurable.

OPPOSITES FOR condemn

2 exonerate, exculpate, liberate.

See antonyms for condemn on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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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

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·demn·ing, adjectiveun·con·dem·na·ble, 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use condemn in a sentence

Scientists around the world, including in China, have condemned this work, and as recently as September of 2020, an international committee of experts said that CRISPR is not ready for use in viable human embryos.
Two women just won the Nobel Prize for their work on the gene-editing technique CRISPR|Claire Maldarelli|October 7, 2020|Popular-Science
I think that all of these groups are equal, and I condemn them on the strongest terms, and we need to remain one nation under God.
Election live updates: Debate commission says it will change structure to ensure more ‘orderly discussion’|John Wagner, Felicia Sonmez, Amy B Wang|September 30, 2020|Washington Post
Now it’s on a nosedive to the other end of the spectrum—we’re condemning it and focusing on its ills and unintended consequences.
‘The Social Dilemma’ Will Freak You Out—But There’s More to the Story|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|September 29, 2020|Singularity Hub
He also acknowledged to the federal government that, during the same summer, he tried to help a landlord reopen a condemned piece of property through a pair of “consultants,” including another county employee.
Sheriff’s Department Made Excuses for Captain Who Pleaded Guilty to Arms Dealing|Jesse Marx|September 23, 2020|Voice of San Diego

To date, only three prominent Republicans, Supervisor Dianne Jacob, congressional candidate Darrell Issa and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer have condemned the video.
Republicans’ Relative Silence on Krvaric Video Is Deafening|Jacob Mandel|September 1, 2020|Voice of San Diego
How could this dazzling creature have done something so condemnable.
Spilling My Family's Secrets|Frances Osborne|May 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST
A draft was submitted to Marx and he wrote of it that it was "utterly condemnable and demoralizing to the party."
Socialism|John Spargo
Of our Cant, all condemnable, how much is not condemnable without pity; we had almost said, without respect!
Past and Present|Thomas Carlyle
"The theocratic despotism of kings or the democratic despotism of majorities" are alike condemnable.
Anarchism|Paul Eltzbacher
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.
It has constituted itself judge; condemns what is condemnable, resists violence, endeavours to enlighten the masses.
Paris under the Commune|John Leighton

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

condemn

OPPOSITES FOR condemn

Origin of condemn

synonym study for condemn

OTHER WORDS FROM condemn

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH condemn

Words related to condemn

How to use condemn in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for condemn

Derived forms of condemn

Word Origin for condemn