condemn

condemn — verb

1. to express very strong disapproval of a person or their actions, especially beca

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to express very strong disapproval of a person or their actions, especially because you believe those actions are morally wrong or unacceptable.

Example

Many politicians condemned the new law as an attack on civil rights.

condemn + noun + as + noun phrase

The company was widely condemned for dumping toxic waste into the river.

passive: be condemned for [action]

Common collocations
  • strongly condemn
  • publicly condemn
  • widely condemn
  • rightly condemn
  • unequivocally condemn
  • condemn in the strongest terms
  • condemn as unacceptable
  • condemn for violence
Synonyms
  • denounce

    more public and formal; often used for official statements

  • criticize

    weaker and more general; does not imply moral judgment

  • censure

    formal, official criticism, often by an institution or governing body

  • decry

    literary or formal; emphasizes publicly stating that something is wrong

Antonyms
  • praise

    express warm approval or admiration

  • commend

    formally praise someone or something

  • applaud

    express strong approval, often publicly

Grammar Patterns

condemn + noun/pronoun + for + noun/gerund

condemn + noun/pronoun + as + noun/adjective

passive: be condemned (by + agent)

Usage Note

This entry covers only the moral-criticism sense. 'Condemn' also has several other common meanings not included here: (a) to officially sentence someone to a punishment in court; (b) to force someone into an unpleasant situation ('condemned to a life of poverty'); (c) to declare a building officially unsafe for use.

Common Mistakes

I condemned my friend for being late.
I criticized my friend for being late.
'condemn' is much stronger and implies moral judgment; use 'criticize' for everyday complaints.
The judge criticized him to life in prison.
The judge condemned him to life in prison.
'condemn' (not 'criticize') is the legal term for sentencing.

Word family

  • condemnation
    nounB2
  • condemned
    adjectiveB2
  • condemnatory
    adjectiveC1
  • condemningly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These four verbs all involve negative judgment, but differ in strength and context. 'Condemn' is the strongest: it carries moral outrage and is used for serious wrongdoing ('condemn the use of child labour'). 'Denounce' is also strong and public, but often focuses on exposing something as wrong rather than on moral feeling ('denounce the policy as unjust'). 'Criticize' is the weakest and most general — it can be used for minor complaints ('criticize the service in a restaurant'). 'Censure' is the most formal and institutional, typically involving an official body ('the committee censured the senator for misconduct'). 'Decry' is formal and literary, often used for trends or developments ('decry the decline of traditional values'). For everyday disagreements, use 'criticize'; for serious public statements, 'condemn' or 'denounce' are more appropriate.

denounce ↗criticize ↗censuredecry

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in the strongest terms
  • on moral grounds

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'condemnare' (con- 'together' + damnare 'to inflict loss, to condemn'), originally meaning 'to sentence someone to a penalty'. The sense of strong moral criticism emerged in the 16th century and is now the most common meaning.