Word
condemn
Meanings
To express strong disapproval of something, especially in public or in an official statement.
To officially declare that a building or structure is unsafe and must not be used.
To formally sentence someone for a crime in a court of law.
Definition
To condemn is to express strong disapproval of something, often publicly or officially.
To condemn means to say clearly that you believe something is wrong, unacceptable, or deserves criticism. It is often used in public statements about actions, ideas, or events. It can also mean that an authority officially declares a building or object unsafe or no longer usable. In legal contexts, it may refer to formally sentencing someone, but everyday use more often focuses on strong disapproval.
Examples
- I condemn the harassment because it undermines any chance of a constructive discussion.
- You can condemn the decision without attacking the people who made it.
- She condemned the leaked footage as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
- They condemned the violence in a joint statement after the meeting ended.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "condemn" with "convict"—you condemn an action or person (express disapproval), but you convict someone (find them guilty in court).
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.