The doctors were wrong to condemn the couple.
Source: tatoeba (44272)
Condemn
/kənˈdɛm/
Synonyms for "condemn" (358 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (72)
Verb(31 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Noun(10 words)
Strong matches (107)
Verb(35 words)
consumeconvictcorruptcriticizecrucifycry downcry out againstcry out oncry shame uponcursecut updamagedamndamneddeal destructiondecimatedecreedecrydefiledenounce
Show 27 more words
Noun(22 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Related words (179)
foreordainedfulminate againstgobblegobble upgutgut with fireharassharmhavochexhurtimpairimpeachimpugnincinerateindictinfectinjureinveigh againstjinx
Show 69 more words
knocklay in ruinslay wastemaltreatmenacemistreatmolestordainedorderoutragepanpass judgmentpass sentencepass sentence onpenalizepersecuteplay havoc withpoisonpolluteprejudicepronouncepronounce judgmentpronounce onpronounce sentenceproscriberailrapravagerebukereflect uponreportreprehendreprimandreproachreprobatereprovereturn a verdictruinruinaterulesavagescathescoldsentenceshake upshipwreckskinstigmatizeswallow uptaintthreatenthrow into disordertormenttortureunleash destructionunleash the hurricaneupbraidupheaveutter a judgmentvandalizevaporizeviolatevituperatewastewoundwrackwreak havocwreckwrong
Noun(39 words)
frownfrowningfrownsfulminatefulminateshectorsjudgingknockinglambastelambastingmaulmeasure of displeasureoutlawpanpanspilloriespilloryingpitchforkingproscribingrails
Show 19 more words
rebukesreproachesreprobatesrubbishrubbishingsavagesscoldsscorchingsentence subjectsentencessentencingslamslam intostigmatizingterrible designtrashestrashingupbraidingvituperating
Verb(47 words)
Adjective(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: decry, sentence, abhor, abhors, abominate.
- Sentence evidence is available for condemn, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "condemn".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "condemn"
Keep "condemn" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "condemn" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "condemn", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "condemn" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
24 entriesattachattestbuilding code enforcementbuilding safety actioncertifycompelconfiscatedeclaredemonstratedenouncedisapprovalevidenceimpoundjudgmentjudicial procedurelegal action
Showing 16 of 24 words.
More specific
9 entriescensure practicecondemn buildingcondemn factorycondemn housedecry wrongdoingdenounce policyimpose death penaltyimpose life sentencepass sentence
Collocations
6 entriescondemn as unethicalcondemn buildingcondemn policycondemn practicecondemn publiclycondemn wrongdoing
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesTranslations
8 translations across 6 languages.
Catalan
3 entries- clausurar verb (to adjudge as unfit for habitation)
- declarar inhabitable verb (to adjudge as unfit for habitation)
- declarar ruïna verb (to adjudge as unfit for habitation)
Finnish
1 entries- todeta asumiskelvottomaksi verb (to adjudge as unfit for habitation)
French
1 entries- condamner verb (to adjudge as unfit for habitation)
German
1 entries- für abrissreif erklären verb (to adjudge as unfit for habitation)
Portuguese
1 entries- condenar verb (to adjudge as unfit for habitation)
Spanish
1 entries- clausurar verb (to adjudge as unfit for habitation)
Sample sentences
17 total sentences available.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Source: tatoeba (269622)
Religions, which condemn the pleasures of sense, drive men to seek the pleasures of power. Throughout history power has been the vice of the ascetic.
Source: tatoeba (411792)
If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.
Source: tatoeba (413928)
Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "condemn"?
Closest matches include decry, sentence, abhor, abhors, abominate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "condemn"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.