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

Bolsonaro, who was not in Brazil at the time, condemned the rioters the following day and denied involvement.

From Salon

Six months ago, when the court’s chief prosecutor said he had requested the warrants, the U.S. condemned the move.

From Los Angeles Times

Republicans and some staunchly pro-Israel Democrats, on the other hand, were quick to condemn the warrants and threaten action against the ICC.

From Salon

The Israeli prime minister’s office condemned the ICC’s decision as “antisemitic”, while Hamas said the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant set an "important historical precedent".

From BBC

House Democrats strongly condemned the resolution and accused Mace of bullying a fellow member of Congress.

From BBC

Related Words

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