Censure — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈsen(t)-shər/ cen·sure

Meaning & Definition of Censure

Censure (noun)

  1. a judgment involving condemnation
  2. the act of blaming or condemning sternly
  3. an official reprimand

Censure (verb)

  1. to find fault with and criticize as blameworthy
  2. to formally reprimand (someone), to express official censure of (someone)
  3. estimate, judge

Censure (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an often public or formal expression of disapproval

    "a rare censure of a senator by the full United States Senate for misconduct"

    similar: commination, condemnation, denunciation, excoriation, objurgation, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reproof, riot act, stricture
    related: admonishment, admonition, castigation, chastisement, damnation, punishment, remonstrance, business, devil, dressing-down, lash, lecture, lesson, rap, scolding, talking-to, tongue-lashing, belittlement, criticism, deprecation, depreciation, disparagement, pan
    opposite: citation, commendation, endorsement
    near: acclamation, honor, tribute, encomium, eulogy, panegyric, plaudit(s), praise, approval, blessing, sanction

Censure (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to express public or formal disapproval of

    "a vote to censure the President for conduct that was unbecoming to the office"

    similar: condemn, denounce, objurgate, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, bring to account, call to account
    related: admonish, chastise, castigate, punish, bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up, dress down, flay, gibbet, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste, lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, tell off, upbraid, belittle, criticize, deprecate, depreciate, disparage
    opposite: cite, commend, endorse
    near: acclaim, applaud, hail, honor, eulogize, laud, praise, approve, bless, sanction

  2. to declare to be morally wrong or evil

    "our society generally censures the taking of another person's life"

    similar: anathematize, condemn, damn, decry, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate
    related: attack, blame, blast, criticize, dis (slang), dispraise, fault, knock, pan, slam, belittle, deprecate, disparage, doom, sentence, convict, blacklist, excommunicate, ostracize, castigate, chastise, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, admonish, chide, reprove, berate, lambaste, rake, scold, upbraid, vituperate, curse, imprecate, abhor, abominate, detest, hate, loathe, revile
    opposite: bless
    near: approve, endorse, sanction, eulogize, exalt, extol, glorify, laud, praise, acclaim, applaud, commend, hail, salute, tout, consecrate, hallow, sanctify, honor, revere, venerate

  3. to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of

    "critics have striven to outdo each other in censuring that pop novelist's latest work"

    similar: blame, condemn, criticize, denounce, deplore, dis (slang), dispraise, fault, knock, pan, reprehend, slag (chiefly British), come down hard (on), find fault (with), take to task
    related: skewer, tweak, assail, attack, blast, clobber, slam, slash, nick (at), snipe (at), beef, bellyache, bitch, carp, cavil, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, niggle, quibble, whine, admonish, chide, drub, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, berate, castigate, crucify, excoriate, flay, gibbet, hammer, keelhaul, lambaste, lash, pillory, scold, upbraid, bad-mouth, belittle, decry, deride, discommend, disparage, put down
    opposite: extol, laud, praise
    near: approve, commend, endorse, recommend, sanction

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Censure

The most common words with a similar meaning to Censure:

Slang: dis
Chiefly British: slag
commination, condemnation, denunciation, excoriation, objurgation, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reproof, riot act, stricture, condemn, denounce, objurgate, reprove, anathematize, damn, decry, execrate, reprehend, reprobate, blame, criticize, deplore, dispraise, fault, knock, pan, bring to account, call to account, come down hard (on), find fault (with), take to task

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Censure

Words with the opposite meaning of Censure:

citation, commendation, endorsement, cite, commend, endorse, bless, extol, laud, praise

Related Words for Censure

admonishment, admonition, castigation, chastisement, damnation, punishment, remonstrance, business, devil, dressing-down, lash, lecture, lesson, rap, scolding, talking-to, tongue-lashing, belittlement, criticism, deprecation, depreciation, disparagement, admonish, chastise, castigate, punish, bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up

Near Antonyms of Censure

acclamation, honor, tribute, encomium, eulogy, panegyric, plaudit(s), approval, blessing, sanction, acclaim, applaud, hail, eulogize, approve, exalt, glorify, salute, tout, consecrate, hallow, sanctify, revere, venerate, recommend

Word Forms of Censure

Inflections: censured, censuring

Derived words: censurer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Censure

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French censure, borrowed from Latin cēnsūa "office of censor, assessment, moral oversight," from cēnsēre "to give as an opinion, perform the duties of a censor" + -ūra -ure censor:1

First known use: 1539

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Censure

Frequently Asked Questions about Censure

What does "Censure" mean?

"Censure" means a judgment involving condemnation. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a judgment involving condemnation. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Censure"?

Other words for "Censure" include commination, condemnation, denunciation, excoriation, objurgation, rebuke, reprimand and reproach. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Censure" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Censure"?

There are 139 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Censure". Common alternatives include commination, condemnation, denunciation, excoriation, objurgation, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reproof and riot act.

What is the opposite of "Censure"?

Antonyms of "Censure" include citation, commendation, endorsement, cite, commend, endorse, bless and extol. Near antonyms include acclamation, honor, tribute and encomium.

How do you use "Censure" in a sentence?

Examples of "Censure" in a sentence: "a rare censure of a senator by the full United States Senate for misconduct"; "a vote to censure the President for conduct that was unbecoming to the office"; "our society generally censures the taking of another person's life".

Is "Censure" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Censure" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Censure" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Censure" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Censure"?

"Censure" is pronounced /ˈsen(t)-shər/ and divided into syllables as cen·sure.