censure
1 of 2noun
censure
2 of 2verb
transitive verb
Charlotte Brontë Emma Loop 
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Censure Has an Offical Connotation
Censure and its synonyms criticize, reprehend, condemn, and denounce all essentially mean "to find fault with openly." Additionally, censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and often refers to an official action. Criticize implies finding fault with someone's methods, policies, or intentions, as in "the commentator criticized the manager's bullpen strategy." Reprehend implies sharp criticism or disapproval, as in "a teacher who reprehends poor grammar." Condemn usually suggests a final unfavorable judgment, as in "the group condemned the court's decision." Denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration, as in "her letter to the editor denounced the corrupt actions of the mayor's office."
Synonyms
Noun
- commination
- condemnation
- denunciation
- excoriation
- objurgation
- rebuke
- reprimand
- reproach
- reproof
- riot act
- stricture
Verb
- condemn
- denounce
- objurgate
- rebuke
- reprimand
- reproach
- reprove
Example Sentences
Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 In June, the U.S. and their European allies won overwhelming backing for a censure resolution at the IAEA Board calling on Tehran to cooperate with the probe. Laurence Norman, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 In its censure resolution, the Jessamine County Republican Party said the bill McConnell supported June 24 violates the Second, Fifth and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The Courier-Journal, 23 July 2022 The censure resolution from the state party criticized Bowers for a number of actions as a state House member, including on election integrity, immigration and gender identity. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 July 2022 Townsend called on Rogers to apologize and further condemned her when Rogers started to fundraise off of the bipartisan censure vote. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2022 The tension between the commissioners — who were meeting virtually — built up prior to the censure vote. Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2022 Iran avoided facing a censure vote at the board with a similar Grossi visit in September. The Associated. Press, Arkansas Online, 24 Nov. 2021 Shortly after his censure vote, Gosar reposted the offending tweet. Nolan D. Mccaskill, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2021 From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 13 July 2021 But ahead of a visit by Trump to Arizona in July, the state Republican Party voted to censure him. Caroline Linton, CBS News, 3 Aug. 2022 Plus, more division in Washington, where only two Republicans vote to censure Congressman Paul Gosar after his violent video targeting Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. REP. NBC News, 21 Nov. 2021 House Republican leaders recommended their members vote no on the resolution to censure Gosar. Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2021 The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog urged Iran on Monday to cooperate with his inspectors amid a standoff over its atomic program and a threat by Western nations to censure Tehran over its noncooperation. Emily Schultheis, ajc, 6 June 2022 Some Utah Republicans have repeatedly tried to censure Romney for those two votes. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Apr. 2022 The Lakota Local School District board of education voted to censure new board member Darbi Boddy and asked her to resign Wednesday. Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 27 Apr. 2022 The state’s most visible LGBTQ rights lobbyist called for the House to censure Helmer. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Noun
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French censure, borrowed from Latin cēnsūa "office of censor, assessment, moral oversight," from cēnsēre "to give as an opinion, perform the duties of a censor" + -ūra -ure — more at censor entry 1
Verb
derivative of censure entry 1, probably after Middle French censurer
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Verb
1590, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
censure 1 of 2
noun
censure
2 of 2verb
Legal Definition
censure
noun
censure 1 of 2
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- reprimand
- condemnation
- rebuke
- criticism
- denunciation
- reproach
- excoriation
- reproof
- punishment
- stricture
- castigation
- commination
- riot act
- lecture
- admonishment
- chastisement
- remonstrance
- admonition
- damnation
- objurgation
- scolding
- lesson
- disparagement
- lash
- belittlement
- tongue-lashing
- dressing-down
- depreciation
- talking-to
- deprecation
- rap
- pan
- devil
- business
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- commendation
- endorsement
- indorsement
- citation
- praise
- honor
- sanction
- tribute
- approval
- acclamation
- eulogy
- encomium
- blessing
- panegyric
- plaudit(s)
censure
2 of 2verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- reprimand
- condemn
- denounce
- punish
- criticize
- reproach
- scold
- rebuke
- reprove
- admonish
- objurgate
- call to account
- chastise
- bring to account
- upbraid
- castigate
- berate
- lecture
- rag
- tell off
- keelhaul
- gibbet
- disparage
- bawl out
- jaw
- cut up
- flay
- belittle
- dress down
- lambast
- lambaste
- deprecate
- rate
- chew out
- score
- depreciate
- rail (at or against)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- commend
- endorse
- indorse
- cite
- honor
- applaud
- praise
- approve
- sanction
- hail
- acclaim
- laud
- bless
- eulogize
Synonyms & Similar Words
- denounce
- condemn
- criticize
- blame
- reprehend
- attack
- anathematize
- execrate
- decry
- reprobate
- damn
- dispraise
- sentence
- fault
- reprimand
- excommunicate
- reproach
- disparage
- convict
- ostracize
- rebuke
- belittle
- pan
- doom
- admonish
- scold
- deprecate
- upbraid
- blacklist
- chastise
- chide
- hate
- vituperate
- diss
- knock
- reprove
- slam
- imprecate
- castigate
- berate
- blast
- revile
- abominate
- dis
- loathe
- detest
- abhor
- rake
- lambast
- lambaste
- curse
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sanction
- approve
- endorse
- praise
- bless
- indorse
- commend
- applaud
- laud
- exalt
- salute
- extol
- glorify
- acclaim
- honor
- hail
- eulogize
- tout
- consecrate
- sanctify
- extoll
- revere
- venerate
- hallow
Synonyms & Similar Words
- criticize
- blame
- condemn
- denounce
- fault
- knock
- attack
- dispraise
- reprehend
- scold
- pan
- slam
- slag
- diss
- complain
- lash
- kick
- reprimand
- dis
- slash
- tweak
- admonish
- find fault (with)
- come down hard (on)
- blast
- reproach
- take to task
- rebuke
- murmur
- assail
- upbraid
- mutter
- chide
- whine
- cavil
- bitch
- moan
- grumble
- beef
- bellyache
- reprove
- grouse
- excoriate
- clobber
- growl
- skewer
- pillory
- berate
- crucify
- disparage
- castigate
- quibble
- gripe
- gibbet
- deride
- niggle
- crab
- decry
- belittle
- flay
- kvetch
- carp
- lambaste
- drub
- lambast
- keelhaul
- fuss
- snipe (at)
- hammer
- nick (at)
- discommend
- bad-mouth
- croak
- put down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praise
- sanction
- laud
- approve
- extol
- commend
- recommend
- endorse
- indorse
- extoll
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of censure are condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, and reprobate. While all these words mean "to find fault with openly," censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and of reprimanding.
The synonyms condemn and censure are sometimes interchangeable, but condemn usually suggests an unqualified and final unfavorable judgment.
The words criticize and censure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions.
Denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration.
In some situations, the words reprehend and censure are roughly equivalent. However, reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking.
The meanings of reprobate and censure largely overlap; however, reprobate implies strong disapproval or firm refusal to sanction.