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condemn

[kuhn-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 [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

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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

Related Words

convicted, doomed, damned, fated

Examples from the Web for condemned

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Besides, he condemned the continuance of the war duties in times of peace.

    The Grand Old Man

    Richard B. Cook

  • The policy of excluding the coasting trade from the measure he also condemned.

    The Grand Old Man

    Richard B. Cook

  • But he felt troubled; he was condemned, and it was the world's voice which had condemned him.

    Tiverton Tales

    Alice Brown

  • So fair, so innocent a victim shall not be condemned to that living tomb.

    Calderon The Courtier

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • Adams then said, "He hoped he should not be condemned unheard."

    Joseph Andrews Vol. 1

    Henry Fielding

British Dictionary definitions for condemned

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 condemned

adj.

1540s, "found guilty, at fault," past participle adjective from condemn. Of property, "found unfit for use," from 1798.

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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