condemn

/kən'dem/

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Explanation of "Condemn"

Part of Speech: Verb

Examples:

1. Disapproval:

   • "We condemn the use of violence in protests."

2. Legal Sentence:

   • "After a long trial, he was condemned to five years in prison."

3. Unsafe Building:

   • "The old warehouse was condemned by the city inspector because it was falling apart."

4. Personal Sacrifice:

   • "His dedication to his family condemned him to a life of hard work with little free time."

Advanced Usage:

• "Condemn" can also be used in a more abstract sense, such as when someone's actions or character are judged negatively by others.
  • Example: "Her reckless behavior condemned her reputation in the community."

Word Variants:

• Condemnation (noun): The act of condemning or the state of being condemned.

  • Example: "The condemnation of the building led to its demolition."

• Condemned (adjective): Describes something that has been condemned, often used for buildings or people in a legal sense.

  • Example: "The condemned building was marked with warning signs."

Different Meanings:

1. Legal Context: To officially declare a person guilty of a crime (e.g., sentencing).
2. Public Use: To take private property for public use, often with compensation.
3. Moral Judgment: To express strong disapproval of someone's actions or beliefs.

Synonyms:

• Denounce: To publicly declare something to be wrong or evil.
• Reprobate: To express disapproval of someone or something.
• Censure: To express severe disapproval, typically in a formal statement.
• Damn: To express strong condemnation (can be more informal or religious).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are not many common idioms directly using "condemn," but phrases like "condemn to a fate" (e.g., "He was condemned to a life of solitude") imply a strong judgment about someone's future.

Summary:

"Condemn" is a versatile verb used to express strong disapproval, a legal sentence, or a judgment about safety. It has various forms and synonyms, and it applies in both moral and legal contexts.

Academic

Verb

1. appropriate (property) for public use
   • the county condemned the land to build a highway
2. pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law
   • He was condemned to ten years in prison
3. demonstrate the guilt of (someone)
   • Her strange behavior condemned her
4. compel or force into a particular state or activity
   • His devotion to his sick wife condemned him to a lonely existence
5. declare or judge unfit for use or habitation
   • The building was condemned by the inspector
6. express strong disapproval of
   • We condemn the racism in South Africa
   • These ideas were reprobated

Synonyms

• sentence
• doom
• reprobate
• decry
• objurgate
• excoriate