ENGLISH
REFERENCE

branded

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈbɹændɪd// UK //bɹˈændɪd// brand·ed

v. to describe someone or something as being bad in a permanent way. It is often used when a person is unfairly judged by others.

v. to assign a strong, typically negative label or reputation to someone or something. Often used in the passive voice to indicate how a person is perceived by the public or an authority.


SIMPLE

The media branded him a liar after the interview.

CONTEXTUAL

After the company failed to pay its workers on time, it was branded as unreliable by the local community.

COMPLEX

In the wake of the scandal, the politician found himself branded a traitor by his former allies, a label that effectively ended his career in public service.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and often follows the pattern 'brand someone as something' or 'brand someone [noun]'.

Pitfall

They branded him for a thief.They branded him a thief.When using a noun as the label, do not use a preposition; use 'as' only before adjectives or certain noun phrases.

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