condemn

[ kuhn-dem ]

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.

   Antonyms: liberate, exculpate, exonerate

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 doom to eternal punishment in hell.
8. to declare incurable.

condemn

/ kənˈdɛm; kənˈdɛməbəl /

verb

1. to express strong disapproval of; censure
2. to pronounce judicial sentence on
3. to demonstrate the guilt of

   his secretive behaviour condemned him

4. to judge or pronounce unfit for use

   that food has been condemned

5. to compel or force into a particular state or activity

   his disposition condemned him to boredom

Derived Forms

• ˌcondemˈnation, noun
• conˈdemningly, adverb
• conˈdemner, noun
• condemnable, adjective
• conˈdemnably, adverb

Other Words From

• con·dem·na·ble [k, uh, n-, dem, -n, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• con·dem·na·bly adverb
• con·demn·er [k, uh, n-, dem, -er], con·dem·nor [k, uh, n-, dem, -er, k, uh, n-dem-, nawr], noun
• con·demn·ing·ly adverb
• re·con·demn verb (used with object)
• self-con·demn·ing adjective
• un·con·dem·na·ble adjective
• un·con·demn·ing adjective
• un·con·demn·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of condemn¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English condempnen, from Anglo-French, Old French condem(p)ner, from Latin condemnāre; con-, damn

Word History and Origins

Origin of condemn¹

C13: from Old French condempner, from Latin condemnāre, from damnāre to condemn; see damn

Synonym Study

See blame.

Example Sentences

We must condemn hate and protect individuals and groups who might be targeted.

From Salon

"I strongly condemn the attacks against the Supreme court and the lower house," he said in a statement posted to X.

From BBC

But neither did Church leaders condemn gay unions as some traditionalists had wanted.

From BBC

Unlike Brown, Ryan did not condemn state killing itself.

From Slate

"We are well aware of what happened earlier with Maccabi supporters but we think that's of a different category and we condemn any violence as well, but that is no excuse whatsoever for what happened later on that night in the attacks on Jews in Amsterdam," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• castigate
• censure
• chide
• criticize
• decry
• denounce
• punish
• sentence