pre-condemn
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To condemn or judge beforehand: "pre-condemn" means to declare someone or something guilty, wrong, or unacceptable before a proper examination, trial, or full understanding has occurred. It implies a premature or prejudiced judgment.
Usage Examples
- (To judge the suspect as guilty before the trial.)
- (To reject or criticize something in advance, without proper knowledge.)
- (To form a negative opinion about the proposal before a thorough discussion.)
Advanced Usage
"to pre-condemn someone to something": to declare someone destined for a negative fate or outcome in advance.
- The harsh economic policies seemed to pre-condemn the region to poverty. (To predetermine a negative outcome for the region.)
"pre-condemned" (adjective): already judged or condemned in advance.
- The project was pre-condemned by the board before any feasibility study. (The project was rejected prematurely.)
Variants and Related Words
Pre-condemnation (noun): the act of condemning in advance.
- His pre-condemnation of the plan was based on rumors, not facts. (The premature judgment of the plan.)
Pre-condemnatory (adjective): serving to condemn in advance.
- The pre-condemnatory remarks by the spokesperson biased the public opinion. (Remarks that judge beforehand.)
Synonyms
- Prejudge: to form an opinion before having all the facts.
- Preconvict: to declare guilty in advance (less common).
- Forecondemn: to condemn beforehand.
Antonyms
- Acquit: to declare not guilty after proper examination.
- Vindicate: to clear from blame or suspicion.
Related Idioms
- "To condemn without a hearing": to judge someone without giving them a chance to defend themselves.
- The court cannot condemn without a hearing; that would be a pre-condemnation. (To judge prematurely.)
Phrasal Verbs
- Pre-condemn against: to express a negative judgment in opposition to something in advance.
- The activist group pre-condemned against the construction project before the environmental review. (They voiced opposition prematurely.)