Condemn — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Condemn (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. to declare to be morally wrong or evil

   "it is a sign of human progress that slavery, which was once legal in many places, is now universally condemned"

   similar: anathematize, censure, 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

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

   "a report that condemns the working conditions in the factories of many developing countries"

   similar: blame, censure, 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

3. to express public or formal disapproval of

   "the philosopher's works were once condemned by the church and placed on its list of forbidden books"

   similar: censure, 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

4. to find or pronounce guilty

   "the accused was condemned by the news media even before the trial began"

   similar: convict
   related: accuse, arraign, charge, impeach, indict, censure, damn, denounce, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, admonish, castigate, chastise, penalize, punish, sentence
   opposite: absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate
   near: cite, commend, endorse, approve, bless, sanction

5. to impose a judicial punishment on

   "a stern judge who does not hesitate to condemn a felon to life behind bars"

   similar: damn, doom, sentence
   related: adjudge, judge, castigate, censure, chasten, chastise, correct, discipline, penalize, punish, conclude, decide, decree, determine, find, opine, resolve, rule
   near: pardon, reprieve