condemn Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Con*demn" transitive verb
Etymology
L. condemnare; con- + damnare to condemn: cf. F. condamner. See Damn.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Condemned ; present participle & verbal noun Condemning
Definitions
  1. To pronounce to be wrong; to disapprove of; to censure.
    Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! Why, every fault's condemned ere it be done. Shak.
    Wilt thou condemn him that is most just? Job xxxiv. 17.
  2. To declare the guilt of; to make manifest the faults or unworthiness of; to convict of guilt.
    The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it. Matt. xii. 42.
  3. To pronounce a judicial sentence against; to sentence to punishment, suffering, or loss; to doom; -- with to before the penalty.
    Driven out from bliss, condemned In this abhorred deep to utter woe. Milton.
    To each his sufferings; all are men, Condemned alike to groan. Gray.
    And they shall condemn him to death. Matt. xx. 18.
    The thief condemned, in law already dead. Pope.
    No flocks that range the valley free, To slaughter I condemn. Goldsmith.
  4. To amerce or fine; -- with in before the penalty.
    The king of Egypt . . . condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver. 2 Cron. xxxvi. 3.
  5. To adjudge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service; to adjudge or pronounce to be forfeited; as, the ship and her cargo were condemned.
  6. (Law) To doom to be taken for public use, under the right of eminent domain. Syn. -- To blame; censure; reprove; reproach; upbraid; reprobate; convict; doom; sentence; adjudge.

Webster 1913