Explanation at your level:
When something is very bad, we say it is wrong. To condemn is to say this out loud to many people. A leader might say, 'This is bad!' That is to condemn.
Use condemn when you really dislike something bad. If a building is not safe, a person in charge will say it is condemned. This means nobody can go inside anymore.
In news, you will hear people condemn violence or unfair laws. It is a formal way to say you do not agree with an action. It shows you are very serious about your opinion.
Condemn is used to express strong disapproval. It is often used in political or social contexts. You can also say someone is condemned to a difficult situation, meaning they are stuck in it.
The term condemn carries significant moral weight. It is often used in academic or legal discourse to describe the formal rejection of behavior. It implies a judgment that is final and authoritative.
Etymologically rooted in the Roman legal system, condemn implies a definitive sentencing. In literary contexts, it may describe a character being 'condemned' by fate or their own tragic flaws, elevating the word to a level of existential finality.
30秒でわかる単語
- Strongly express disapproval
- Use for serious moral issues
- Can mean 'declare unsafe'
- Formal and authoritative tone
When you condemn something, you are taking a firm stand against it. It is more than just disliking something; it is a serious, often public, declaration that an action or situation is morally wrong, unacceptable, or dangerous.
You will often hear this word in the news. For example, world leaders might condemn an act of violence to show they do not support it. It carries a heavy weight because it implies that the speaker has judged the situation and found it lacking in integrity or safety.
Beyond behavior, the word has a physical meaning. If an inspector decides a building is falling apart and is dangerous to live in, they will condemn the building. This means it must be closed or torn down because it is no longer safe for people.
The word condemn has a fascinating journey through history. It comes from the Latin word condemnare, which is a combination of com- (meaning 'together' or 'completely') and damnare (meaning 'to inflict loss' or 'to judge').
Originally, damnare was a legal term used in Roman courts. If you were 'damned' in this sense, you were being sentenced to pay a fine or suffer a penalty. Over time, the word evolved through Old French as condemner before entering English in the 14th century.
Interestingly, the 'n' at the end of the word is silent. This is because, while the word was spelled with an 'n' in Latin, English speakers stopped pronouncing it over time, even though it remains in the spelling. It is a classic example of how English spelling often preserves the 'ghosts' of older languages while our pronunciation moves on to something easier to say.
Using condemn correctly requires understanding its serious tone. You wouldn't use it to describe a bad sandwich; you would use it for major social issues, crimes, or dangerous conditions. It is a formal word, typically found in journalism, legal documents, and political speeches.
Common phrases include condemn the actions of, strongly condemn, and universally condemned. These collocations emphasize the severity of the judgment. When you use this word, you are signaling that you are not just giving an opinion, but making a moral or official judgment.
In a casual setting, you might say, 'I don't like that,' but if you want to sound authoritative or express deep moral outrage, condemn is the perfect choice. Just remember to keep it for serious topics to ensure the word retains its power.
While condemn itself isn't the core of many common idioms, it is often used in set phrases. 1. Condemned to repeat history: Used when someone fails to learn from past mistakes. 2. Condemned to silence: Being forced or made unable to speak. 3. Condemned by one's own words: When what you say proves you are guilty or wrong. 4. Condemn out of hand: To reject or criticize something immediately without thinking. 5. Condemn to death: A formal legal sentence that is the most extreme use of the word.
The verb condemn follows standard conjugation: condemns, condemning, and condemned. Note the silent 'n' at the end; the 'm' and 'n' together at the end of the root word often lead to the 'n' being dropped in speech.
IPA pronunciation is /kənˈdem/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like stem, hem, and gem. When using it in a sentence, it is frequently followed by a preposition like 'for' (e.g., 'They were condemned for their greed') or simply a direct object (e.g., 'The city condemned the old house').
Fun Fact
The silent 'n' is a remnant of Latin spelling.
Pronunciation Guide
Silent 'n', stress on second syllable.
Similar to UK, clear 'm' sound.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'n'
- Misplacing stress
- Adding a 'p' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Passive Voice
The house was condemned.
Prepositional Phrases
Condemned to prison.
Subject-Verb Agreement
He condemns.
Examples by Level
The leader will condemn the war.
leader / say it is bad / war
Future tense
They condemn the violence.
they / say it is bad / violence
Simple present
The old house is condemned.
old house / not safe
Passive voice
We condemn bad behavior.
we / say it is bad / behavior
Subject-verb agreement
The judge will condemn him.
judge / say he is guilty
Future tense
Do not condemn others.
don't / judge / others
Imperative
The city condemned the bridge.
city / said it is unsafe / bridge
Past tense
They condemn the lie.
they / say it is bad / lie
Simple present
The mayor condemned the graffiti on the wall.
The committee condemned the unsafe working conditions.
Many people condemned the cruel treatment of animals.
The inspector condemned the building after the fire.
She refused to condemn her friend's choices.
The newspaper condemned the new tax law.
The community condemned the act of vandalism.
He was condemned for his lack of honesty.
The international community was quick to condemn the invasion.
The building was condemned because of structural damage.
He felt condemned to a life of hard labor.
The report condemned the lack of transparency in the company.
She was condemned by her peers for breaking the rules.
Critics condemned the movie for its poor acting.
The government condemned the terrorist attack.
We must condemn any form of discrimination.
The UN issued a statement to condemn the human rights violations.
He was condemned to spend his final days in isolation.
The architect condemned the design as fundamentally flawed.
Public opinion strongly condemned the company's decision to pollute.
The judge condemned the defendant to life in prison.
She felt condemned by her own past mistakes.
The article condemned the systemic corruption in the city.
They were condemned for their silence during the crisis.
The philosopher condemned the era's obsession with material wealth.
The historical record condemns the actions of the tyrant.
He was condemned by his own conscience to confess the truth.
The committee condemned the proposal as both impractical and unethical.
The structural engineer condemned the bridge as a public hazard.
The critics condemned the novel as a derivative work.
The society condemned the practice as barbaric.
The evidence condemned him beyond any doubt.
The poet condemned the vanity of the ruling class in scathing verses.
The regime was condemned by history for its countless atrocities.
She felt condemned to a perpetual state of uncertainty.
The tribunal condemned the war criminals to life imprisonment.
The manifesto condemned the status quo as inherently oppressive.
The structure was condemned, leaving the residents displaced.
The scholar condemned the falsification of ancient texts.
His actions condemned him in the eyes of his supporters.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"condemned by one's own words"
What you say proves you are wrong.
He was condemned by his own words during the trial.
formal"condemn out of hand"
To reject immediately without thinking.
Don't condemn the idea out of hand.
neutral"condemned to repeat history"
Failing to learn from past mistakes.
If we forget, we are condemned to repeat history.
literary"condemned to silence"
Forced to be quiet.
He was condemned to silence by the dictator.
formal"condemned to a life of..."
Stuck in a specific lifestyle.
She was condemned to a life of poverty.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar spelling.
Condone means to forgive or allow, condemn means to reject.
I don't condone his behavior, I condemn it.
Similar meaning.
Criticize is milder.
He criticized the food, but he didn't condemn it.
Both negative.
Blame is about responsibility.
Don't blame me for the weather.
Both formal.
Censure is official reprimand.
The committee censured the member.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + condemn + object
They condemn the act.
Subject + condemn + object + for + reason
He was condemned for his lies.
Subject + condemn + object + to + fate
He was condemned to prison.
Subject + condemn + object + as + adjective
They condemned the house as unsafe.
Passive voice: Object + be + condemned
The building was condemned.
語族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
Condemn is too strong for small things.
It sounds like 'kuh-DEM'.
They are opposites.
Condemn is only a verb.
People often add an extra sound.
Tips
Silent N
Don't say the N!
Serious Tone
Save it for important stuff.
Verb Pattern
Condemn someone for...
News Watch
Find it in headlines.
Formal Context
Use in writing.
Don't confuse with condone
Condone is to allow.
Gavel Image
Think of a judge.
Roman Roots
It's an old word.
Flashcards
Use with 'denounce'.
Building Safety
Specific use for houses.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Con-DEMN (Think of a DEMON being judged).
Visual Association
A judge hitting a gavel.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Use 'condemn' in a sentence about a news story.
語源
Latin
Original meaning: To judge or inflict loss.
文化的な背景
Very strong word, use with caution.
Used frequently in political and legal news.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Politics
- condemn the invasion
- condemn the policy
- strongly condemn
Real Estate
- condemned building
- unsafe structure
- city inspector
Law
- condemned to death
- legal judgment
- guilty verdict
Social Issues
- condemn discrimination
- condemn violence
- public outcry
Conversation Starters
"What is something you strongly condemn?"
"Have you ever seen a condemned building?"
"Why do leaders condemn violence?"
"Is it ever okay to condemn someone?"
"How do you distinguish between criticism and condemnation?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt something was wrong.
Describe a situation where a public figure condemned an act.
Why is it important to speak out against bad things?
Reflect on the difference between forgiving and condemning.
よくある質問
8 問Condemn is much stronger.
Yes, but it is very serious.
Historical pronunciation change.
Condemnation.
Usually in serious discussions.
No, it is always negative.
No, a person condemns a building.
Yes, it is often used in law.
自分をテスト
The leader will ___ the bad act.
Condemn fits the context of a leader's statement.
What does it mean to condemn a building?
Condemning a building means it is unsafe.
Is 'condemn' a very casual word?
It is formal.
Word
意味
Matching opposites.
Subject-verb-object order.
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Summary
To condemn is to use your voice to declare something as morally wrong or physically unsafe.
- Strongly express disapproval
- Use for serious moral issues
- Can mean 'declare unsafe'
- Formal and authoritative tone
Silent N
Don't say the N!
Serious Tone
Save it for important stuff.
Verb Pattern
Condemn someone for...
News Watch
Find it in headlines.
例文
Leaders condemned the violence.
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