condemn Hear it!

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

condemn Related Forms

con·dem′·nable (-dem′nə bəl, -ə bəl) adjective con·demn′er noun

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.

condemn Law Definition

v

  1. To expropriate private property, usually land, for public use. See also appropriation and eminent domain.
  2. To adjudge someone guilty of a crime or to impose sentence, especially a severe penalty such as death or life imprisonment.
  3. To adjudge something, often a building, to be illegal, unfit for public use, or a hazard to the public and order it to be destroyed.

condemn Usage Examples

Object

  • bombing: Gerry Adams carried his coffin with pride; he also refused to condemn the bombing.
  • atrocity: Any politician who truly believes in democracy and opposes gang rule must condemn this atrocity and publicly offer their support to Danny McBrearty.
  • terrorism: We totally and completely condemn any terrorism associated with Kashmir, as we do terrorism elsewhere in the world.
  • killing: Local business and union leaders alike have condemned the killings as highly inconvenient.
  • homosexuality: Such views are fairly easily refuted by reading passages which condemn homosexuality in context.

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.
  • unreservedly: Land and People unreservedly condemn this latest act of racism against the much abused indigenous peoples of this, our, homeland.
  • unequivocally: As long as speed is celebrated in non-road situations, then it will never be unequivocally condemned on the roads.
  • utterly: But can the law, which utterly condemns the sinner, can it redeem the sinner?
  • universally: Pinochet has already been universally condemned for his moral and political responsibility.
  • strongly: We strongly condemn the cruel terrorist acts which targeted the innocent people of the United States.

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.
  • die: I am condemned to die -- now or a little later.
  • live: Those who manage to escape death are condemned to live in destitution and pain.

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.