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censure

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb censure differ from other similar words?

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.

a Senator formally censured by his peers

When would condemn be a good substitute for censure?

The synonyms condemn and censure are sometimes interchangeable, but condemn usually suggests an unqualified and final unfavorable judgment.

condemned the government's racial policies

When could criticize be used to replace censure?

The words criticize and censure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions.

criticized the police for using violence

How do denounce and condemn relate to one another, in the sense of censure?

Denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration.

a pastoral letter denouncing abortion

When can reprehend be used instead of censure?

In some situations, the words reprehend and censure are roughly equivalent. However, reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking.

reprehends the self-centeredness of today's students

Where would reprobate be a reasonable alternative to censure?

The meanings of reprobate and censure largely overlap; however, reprobate implies strong disapproval or firm refusal to sanction.

reprobated his son's unconventional lifestyle

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of censure
Noun
Libby represents more than 9,000 constituents in Maine's House District 90, and six of them have signed onto the lawsuit as plaintiffs because the censure has prevented her from carrying out other legislative actions to serve those constituents. Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025 Ten Democrats, including Houlahan, voted with Republicans for the censure motion. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
After Libby refused, the House voted 75-70 to censure her for violating lawmakers’ ethics code. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 21 May 2025 Libby has been censured since February after the state's Democrat majority voted to take away her voting and speaking rights for a social media post that identified a transgender high school athlete who won a girls' pole vault competition earlier that month. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for censure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for censure
Noun
  • Politicians across New York offered similar condemnations.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025
  • Condolences to Iran, condemnations of Israel Hezbollah and its leader, Naim Kassem, have condemned Israel’s attacks and offered condolences for the senior Iranian officers who were killed.
    Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • What follows is a series of painful-to-watch confrontations between the two, in which Ace reprimands Amaya for normal human behavior, like expecting the guy who chose her to show some romantic interest, in the low, measured tone of a psychopath.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 11 June 2025
  • Manford was reprimanded for the incident; a male coworker who had done something similar a month before faced no repercussions, according to court documents.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Several Make America Great Again (MAGA) figures, such as Laura Loomer, are criticizing Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz over his ties to the suspect in Saturday's deadly shooting.
    Mandy Taheri Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
  • Dominican born, and now a U.S. citizen, Almanzar criticized the flurry of ICE arrests across the city.
    Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 17 attorneys general in condemning Trump’s use of military forces in Los Angeles without state consent.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 June 2025
  • Countries in the region condemned Israel’s attack, while leaders around the globe called for immediate deescalation from both sides.
    Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • Chicago Tribune If the plan goes awry and a recruit slips away, one thing the former NBA insider refuses to do is blame the money.
    Maura Carey, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
  • Tax rise hit Domestic tax rises have also been blamed for the steep decline in economic activity.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • The department also faulted federal officials for not coordinating with local law enforcement in advance, thus delaying deployment and affecting LAPD’s ability to proactivity plan crowd-control operations.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 12 June 2025
  • In a statement Saturday, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons faulted local officials, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, and police for their response to the situation on Friday evening.
    Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Wayne trounced his competition with punishing punchlines and steely wordplay.
    Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 6 June 2025
  • The state then passed new laws aimed at punishing such gouging, and no new similar incidents have happened since then.
    Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 6 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Censure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/censure. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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