Definition

The act of expressing strong disapproval or criticism of something or someone, often in a formal way.

Example

The politician faced public condemnation for his controversial remarks.

Conversation

I heard there was a lot of condemnation about that new policy at work.

Yeah, it seems like everyone is really upset about it.

It’s surprising how quickly people can express their condemnation these days.

True, but sometimes it's necessary to speak out against things we don't agree with.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Condemnation is formed from "con-" (meaning together) and "damnare" (meaning to inflict loss or harm). The word refers to the act of declaring someone or something to be wrong or evil, thus inflicting a moral or legal penalty together with the judgment.

Memory Tip

Think of 'together' ('con-') and 'inflicting harm' ('damnare') to remember that condemnation means declaring something wrong or deserving of punishment.

Visually Confused Words