condemn

[kuhn-dem]

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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.

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

[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, 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 for condemn

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR condemn ON THESAURUS.COM

1. See blame.

Antonyms for condemn

2. exonerate, liberate.

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

Related Words for condemnable

blamable, criminal, culpable, disgraceful, reprehensible, shameful

Examples from the Web for condemnable

Contemporary Examples of condemnable

How could this dazzling creature have done something so condemnable.
Spilling My Family's Secrets
Frances Osborne
May 21, 2010

Historical Examples of condemnable

All books which meddle with the faith are condemnable and pernicious.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
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
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.
Diary from March 4, 1861, to November 12, 1862
Adam Gurowski
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)

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 Formscondemnable (kənˈdɛməbəl), adjectivecondemnably, adverbcondemnation, nouncondemner, nouncondemningly, 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.