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condemn definition

con·demn (kən dem′)

transitive verb

  1. to pass an adverse judgment on; disapprove of strongly; censure
    1. to declare to be guilty of wrongdoing; convict
    2. to pass judicial sentence on; inflict a penalty upon
    3. to doom
  3. ☆ to take (private property) for public use by the power of eminent domain; expropriate
  4. to declare unfit for use or service to condemn a slum tenement

Etymology: ME condempnen < OFr condemner < L condemnare < com-, intens. + damnare, to harm, condemn: see damn

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

law condemn definition - legal

condemn Synonyms

condemn

v.

  1. To send to punishment

    convict, doom, sentence, damn, adjudge, proscribe, pass sentence on, find guilty, utter judicial sentence against, seal the doom of, pronounce judgment, prescribe punishment; see also convict, punish.

    Antonyms acquit, excuse*, exonerate. *

  2. To blame

    denounce, reprobate, censure, rebuke; see censure, denounce. See syn. study at censure.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

condemn Usage Examples

Object

  • bombing: Gerry Adams carried his coffin with pride; he also refused to condemn the bombing.

Subject

  • politician: The total pay out of £ 100,000 has been condemned by unionist politicians.

Adjective complement

  • criminal: Now he wants to try his procedures on a human subject - a condemned criminal perhaps.

Modifying Another Word

  • roundly: This decision was roundly condemned by UK business leaders whilst the Trades Union Congress welcomed the vote.

Used with why or when

  • what: Condemn what 's his or nameless, faceless thousands, millions.

Infinitive complement

  • repeat: It has been rightly said that those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.

Preposition: without

  • reservation: Everyone everywhere condemns without reservation the act of terrorism.

Preposition: by

  • politician: The total pay out of £ 100,000 has been condemned by unionist politicians.
condemn usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

condemn quotes

Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel: they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, preciselyas men would suffer†it is thoughtless to condem them, or laugh at them, if they seek to domorethancustomhas pronounced necessary for their sex.

-Bronte«  , Charlotte

Ourexcessive tolerance of suicide is due to the fact that, since the state of mind from which it springs is a general one, we cannot condemn it without condemning ourselves; we are too saturated with it not partly to excuse it.

-Durkheim, EŁ  mile

condemn quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"condemn." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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APA Style

condemn. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/condemn

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