# condemn

/kənˈdɛm/ (US) · /kəndˈɛm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/condemn
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to criticise strongly

verb · CEFR B2

to say publicly that you think something is very bad or wrong.

For teachers: to express complete disapproval of something, typically in public; to censure or denounce on moral grounds.

- The world leaders met to condemn the violent attacks on innocent civilians.
- The international community was quick to condemn the regime's blatant disregard for human rights and democratic processes.

### 2. to sentence

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to give a person a specific punishment in a court of law.

For teachers: to pronounce a judicial sentence or verdict upon a person found guilty of a crime.

- The murderer was condemned to life in prison without the chance of parole.
- The defendant was condemned to death, though the execution was stayed pending a lengthy appeals process in the high court.

### 3. to doom

verb · CEFR B2

to force someone to experience something very unpleasant or difficult.

For teachers: to sentence or destine someone to a particular unhappy fate or set of circumstances.

- His lack of education condemned him to a life of low-paid, difficult work.
- The sudden collapse of the local industry condemned the entire town to a decade of economic depression and high unemployment.

### 4. to declare unfit

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to officially state that a building or piece of equipment is not safe to use.

For teachers: to declare a structure or piece of equipment to be officially unfit for use, often leading to its closure or destruction.

- The old apartment block was condemned after the inspectors found serious cracks in the walls.
- Following the earthquake, the city engineers condemned several historic buildings that were deemed structurally unsound and a risk to public safety.

## Examples

- The world leaders met to condemn the recent violence.
- The local community was quick to condemn the vandalism of the historic library.
- While the committee was expected to condemn the breach of ethics, their final report was surprisingly mild, leading to public outcry and demands for a more rigorous investigation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.