condemnation
gb/kˌɑndəmnˈeɪʃən/ us/kˌɑndəmnˈeɪʃən/
B2
Anglais
~ 7800
Sens
0 sens
Nom
formal
B2
action
1
strong public or official disapproval
public or official words that say something or someone is very bad or wrong.
Schéma d’usage :
condemnation of [something] by [someone]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse "condemnation" with "punishment". "Condemnation" is the strong negative judgment or words about something, not the actual penalty. For example, "There was condemnation of the crime" (people strongly said it was wrong) is different from "He received punishment for the crime" (he went to prison, paid a fine, etc.).
Synonymes
criticism (General word for saying what is wrong with something; usually weaker and less formal than condemnation.)
|
denunciation (Very strong public criticism, often formal or political, similar in strength to condemnation but focuses more on accusing.)
Antonymes
praise (Shows strong approval instead of strong disapproval.)
|
approval (General positive judgment, the opposite of condemning something as bad or wrong.)
Collocations
strong condemnation
|international condemnation
|face condemnation
|draw condemnation
|universal condemnation
|voice condemnation
Thèmes
emotions
|politics
|society
|communication
Exemples
- The government’s decision to raise taxes met with widespread public condemnation.
- Human rights groups issued a joint condemnation of the army’s actions.
- His comments drew condemnation from politicians across the political spectrum.
- There was strong international condemnation following the missile test.
- She spoke out in clear condemnation of the racist remarks.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The mayor’s words caused public condemnation.
- The new law faced strong condemnation from many people.
- There was international condemnation of the attack.
- The leader gave a speech in condemnation of violence.
- His actions brought condemnation from his friends.
Nom
formal
C1
event
2
official court decision to punish
a court’s decision that a person is guilty and must be punished, often very strongly.
Schéma d’usage :
condemnation of [someone] to [punishment]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may use "condemnation" here when they only mean "criticism". In a legal context, "condemnation" is a formal judgment of guilt and punishment, not just people saying the crime is bad. Use context (words like "court", "judge", "trial") to signal the legal meaning.
Synonymes
conviction (General legal term for being found guilty; condemnation suggests a particularly harsh or severe judgment.)
|
sentencing (Focuses on giving the punishment; condemnation emphasizes the strong judgment that the person deserves it.)
Antonymes
acquittal (Legal decision that someone is not guilty, the opposite of a court’s condemnation.)
Collocations
condemnation to death
|judicial condemnation
|condemnation by the court
|condemnation of the accused
Thèmes
law
|crime
Exemples
- The trial ended in the defendant’s condemnation to life in prison.
- Activists campaigned for years against the condemnation of minors to adult prisons.
- His lawyer argued that such swift condemnation without full evidence violated due process.
- The appeal court overturned his earlier condemnation for fraud.
- International observers criticized the secret trial and subsequent condemnation of the journalist.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The judge’s condemnation of the man led to ten years in prison.
- Her family hoped the court would not give a condemnation to death.
- The lawyer tried to stop the condemnation of his client.
- After his condemnation, he was taken straight to prison.
- They protested the quick condemnation without a fair trial.
Nom
technical
C2
action
3
legal taking of property by state
a legal process where the government takes private land or buildings for public use, usually with money paid to the owner.
Schéma d’usage :
condemnation of [property] for [public use]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes think this is another word for "saying something is bad". In legal and real-estate texts, "condemnation" can mean the government taking property through law, not just criticizing it.
Synonymes
eminent domain (The general legal power that allows the government to take property; condemnation is the specific legal action or process used.)
Antonymes
voluntary sale (The owner chooses to sell the property freely, instead of having it legally taken through condemnation.)
Collocations
condemnation proceedings
|condemnation action
|condemnation of property
|condemnation for public use
Thèmes
law
|business
|politics
Exemples
- The city began condemnation proceedings to acquire the land for a new highway.
- Property owners are challenging the condemnation of their homes for the airport expansion.
- Under state law, condemnation requires the payment of fair market value to the owner.
- The council voted in favor of condemnation to secure the site for a public park.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The town used condemnation to get land for a new road.
- Some people fought the condemnation of their houses.
- Condemnation of property usually includes payment to the owner.
- The company lost its factory after government condemnation for a train project.
Nom
literary
C1
state
4
divine judgment and punishment
in religion, the state of a person who is judged by God as guilty and must suffer punishment after death.
Schéma d’usage :
condemnation of [someone’s] soul
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may not realize this religious sense is different from social or legal disapproval. In Christian texts, "condemnation" often refers to God’s judgment on a soul, not people’s opinions or a human court’s decision.
Synonymes
damnation (Very close in meaning; commonly used in religious language for eternal punishment by God.)
Antonymes
salvation (In religious language, being saved by God, the opposite of being under divine condemnation.)
Collocations
eternal condemnation
|divine condemnation
|fear of condemnation
|condemnation of the soul
Thèmes
religion
|emotions
Exemples
- He grew up fearing eternal condemnation for even small sins.
- The sermon warned of divine condemnation for those who ignored the poor.
- Some believers struggle with feelings of condemnation long after they have confessed their mistakes.
- The novel explores a priest’s doubt about God’s condemnation of non-believers.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She was afraid of God’s condemnation after death.
- The pastor spoke about freedom from condemnation.
- He believed that love, not condemnation, was at the heart of his faith.
- The story shows a man who thinks he lives under God’s condemnation.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
condemnation
API
GB/kˌɑndəmnˈeɪʃən/
US/kˌɑndəmnˈeɪʃən/
Syllabes et accentuation
con - dem - na - tion (4 syllabes)
Stress on 3rd syllable (na)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: condemnation
- Plural: condemnation, condemnations
Famille de mots
Expressions
in condemnation of
1/ˈɪn kˌɑndəmnˈeɪʃən əv/
fixed phrase
formal
as a sign of disapproval
to show clearly that you think something is very bad or wrong.
Exemples
- Thousands marched in condemnation of the new security law.
- Several artists refused the award in condemnation of the government’s policies.
strong condemnation
1/stɹˈɔŋ kˌɑndəmnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
very severe disapproval
very clear and very serious saying that something is bad or wrong.
Exemples
- There was strong condemnation of the attack from leaders around the world.
- Human rights groups issued strong condemnation of the government’s new law.
universal condemnation
1/jˌunəvˈɚsəl kˌɑndəmnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
disapproval from almost everyone
when almost all people or groups say that something is very bad or wrong.
Exemples
- The plan was met with almost universal condemnation from experts.
- Her actions brought universal condemnation across social media.