You've probably felt it before. That sharp, stinging moment when someone doesn’t just disagree with you, but they flat-out judge you. That is the essence of what it means to condemn. It’s a word that carries an incredible amount of weight, whether it’s being tossed around in a courtroom, written in a scathing political op-ed, or whispered in a high school hallway. Honestly, most people use it as a synonym for "dislike," but it’s so much more aggressive than that.
Using condemn in a sentence correctly requires you to understand the gravity of the situation. You aren't just saying something is bad. You are saying it is intolerable. You are declaring it unfit. You are, in many cases, passing a final judgment that can't be taken back. It’s a word for the brave, the angry, and the authoritative.
The Different Faces of Condemnation
Language is weird. One word can mean three different things depending on whether you’re talking about a serial killer, a crumbling apartment building, or a spicy take on social media.
🔗 Read more: Chilliwack Weather: What Most People Get Wrong About January Forecasts
In a legal sense, to condemn often relates to property. Have you ever seen those bright orange stickers on the front of a house? That’s eminent domain or a safety violation in action. "The city had to condemn the old warehouse because the foundation was literally sliding into the river." In this case, the word isn't about morality; it's about structural integrity. It's about safety.
Then you have the moral or social version. This is what we see in the news every single day. A politician makes a gaffe, and their rivals immediately condemn the statement. It’s a formal expression of complete disapproval.
Why we get it wrong
People often confuse "condemn" with "condone." They sound similar, right? But they are polar opposites. If you condone something, you’re basically giving it a thumbs up or at least looking the other way. If you condemn it, you’re trying to burn it down with your words.
Think about it this way:
- Wrong: I cannot condemn your good behavior. (This makes no sense unless you're a supervillain.)
- Right: The international community moved quickly to condemn the human rights violations.
It's about the "no." It's the ultimate "no."
Real-World Examples: Condemn in a Sentence
Let’s look at how this actually functions in the wild. I’m talking about real usage that doesn’t feel like it came out of a 19th-century dictionary.
If you’re writing a report for work, you might say: "We must condemn these unethical business practices before they ruin our brand's reputation." It sounds professional but firm. It shows leadership.
In a more casual, maybe slightly dramatic setting: "I totally condemn your choice of pineapple on pizza, but I’ll still sit next to you." Here, you're using the word hyperbolically. It’s a joke. You’re using a "heavy" word for a light topic, which is a classic linguistic tool for humor.
Consider the tragedy of a natural disaster. You might read a headline like: "The earthquake didn't just break the bridge; officials had to condemn the entire downtown sector." This goes back to that physical, structural meaning.
And then there's the philosophical side. "To remain silent in the face of injustice is to condemn the innocent to a life of suffering." That’s a heavy sentence. It uses the word to describe a consequence, not just an opinion.
The Nuance of Tone and Authority
Who is allowed to condemn? Technically, anyone. But the word carries more "oomph" when it comes from a place of perceived authority.
When a parent says, "I condemn your attitude," it feels a bit stiff. Most parents would just say, "Change your tone." But when a high court judge issues a ruling, the word feels right at home.
The word "condemn" also has a religious history. It's tied to the idea of damnation. If you're a fan of old literature or theology, you’ll see it used to describe a soul’s fate. "The preacher warned that greed would condemn them all." This adds a layer of "forever-ness" to the word that "criticize" or "blame" just doesn't have.
How to Avoid Sounding Like a Robot
If you're trying to use condemn in a sentence in your own writing—maybe for an essay or a blog post—watch out for over-formalizing it. You don't always need to pair it with "strongly."
"The Mayor strongly condemned the riots."
(A bit cliché, right?)
Try:
"The Mayor was quick to condemn the violence, calling it a stain on the city's history."
📖 Related: Happy Anniversary Husband Funny: Why Jokes Keep Your Marriage Alive
It flows better. It feels more human.
Vary your sentence structure. Use short bursts. Use long, flowing explanations. Don't let your writing get stuck in a "Subject-Verb-Object" loop.
- "The jury chose to condemn him." (Short, punchy.)
- "Despite the evidence presented by the defense, which was admittedly flimsy, the public was already prepared to condemn the suspect before the trial even began." (Long, complex, shows the social weight of the word.)
The "Condemned" Building vs. The "Condemned" Man
There’s a subtle difference in how we use the past participle.
A "condemned building" is a ghost. It’s a shell. It’s something that is waiting to be destroyed.
A "condemned man" is someone living on borrowed time.
Both usages imply a loss of future. When something is condemned, its path is set. It’s moving toward an end. That’s why the word feels so final. It’s a door slamming shut.
Common Synonyms (And Why They Aren't Quite Right)
Sometimes people use "denounce." Denounce is close. It’s like a cousin to condemn. But denouncing is usually more public and political. Condemning feels more deeply moral or physical.
What about "criticize"? Not even close. Criticizing is what you do to a movie you didn't like. Condemning is what you do to a crime that shook your soul.
- Criticize: "I criticize your lack of effort."
- Condemn: "I condemn the cruelty you showed that animal."
See the difference? One is a performance review; the other is a moral judgment.
Actionable Steps for Using "Condemn" Correctly
If you're worried about using condemn in a sentence and sounding like you're trying too hard, follow these simple vibes:
- Check the Stakes: Is the situation serious? If you’re talking about a typo, don't use "condemn." If you're talking about a betrayal, go for it.
- Identify the Type: Are you talking about a person's actions, a physical structure, or a legal sentence?
- Action: "We condemn the theft."
- Structure: "The shack was condemned by the health department."
- Legal: "The prisoner was condemned to life behind bars."
- Watch Your Prepositions: Usually, you condemn something or someone to a fate.
- "She was condemned to repeat her mistakes."
- "They condemned the act of terror."
- Read It Aloud: Does it sound natural? Or does it sound like you're wearing a wig from the 1700s? If it feels too heavy, swap it for "denounce" or "censure."
Basically, keep it real. Use it when you mean it. Don't waste a word this powerful on something trivial. When you use it right, it gives your writing a backbone. It tells the reader that you aren't just observing—you're taking a stand.
Next time you see a news story about a local council meeting or a major global event, look for how they use the word. You’ll start to see it everywhere. It’s one of those words that stays in the shadows until things get really, really serious.
The best way to master it is to just start. Try writing three sentences right now. One about a building, one about a politician you don't like, and one about a fictional character. You'll see how the word changes shape to fit the container you put it in.
Mastering the Context
🔗 Read more: Project Smoke Steven Raichlen: Why This Method Changes Everything
To really nail this, you have to look at the surrounding words. If you use "condemn" alongside "mildly," you've failed. You can't "mildly condemn" something. That's like being "slightly pregnant." It’s an all-or-nothing word. Use "categorically," "unreservedly," or "publicly." Or better yet, let the word stand alone. It’s strong enough to carry the weight of the sentence by itself.
Next Steps for Better Writing
- Audit your adjectives: Check if you're weakening "condemn" with unnecessary filler words.
- Search for real-world headlines: Use a news aggregator to find the last five times "condemned" was used by a major outlet. Notice the subjects.
- Practice the "Structure" vs. "Morality" switch: Write two paragraphs where the meaning of the word flips from a physical building to a person's character.
Using language with intent is what separates okay writers from great ones. You've got this. Keep the stakes high and the context clear.