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

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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. 2023

How to use condemn in a sentence

Everyone has fallen into the predictable roles of condemner, (rare and tentative) defender, and gleeful onlooker.
The Anthony Weiner Scandal: C’mon, America, Nobody’s Perfect|Lee Siegel|June 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Meredith, the condemner of the “guarded life,” was humanly nervous in guarding his own little daughter.
The Art of Letters|Robert Lynd
Never was there such a condemner of dignities, such a violator of high places and sanctities, as this very Master Edward.
The May Flower, and Miscellaneous Writings|Harriet Beecher Stowe
God was the Judge and Condemner of those who broke these statutes.
The Gospel of St. John|Frederick Denison Maurice

There probably was plenty of it, but only one condemner wrote.
An American Idyll|Cornelia Stratton Parker

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