Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense censures, present participle censuring, past tense, past participle censured
verb
If you censure someone for something that they have done, you tell them that you strongly disapprove of it.
[formal]
The ethics committee may take a decision to admonish him or to censure him. [VERB noun]
I would not presume to censure Osborne for hating his mother. [VERB noun + for]
Synonyms: criticize, blame, abuse, condemn More Synonyms of censure
Censure is also a noun.
It is a controversial policy which has attracted international censure.
More Synonyms of censure
censure in British English
(ˈsɛnʃə)
noun
1.
severe disapproval; harsh criticism
verb
2.
to criticize (someone or something) severely; condemn
Derived forms
censurer (ˈcensurer)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin cēnsūra, from cēnsēre to consider, assess
censure in American English
(ˈsɛnʃər)
noun
1.
a condemning as wrong; strong disapproval
2.
a judgment or resolution condemning a person for misconduct; specif., an official expression of disapproval passed by a legislature
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcensured or ˈcensuring
3.
to express strong disapproval of
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcritiˌcize
Derived forms
censurer (ˈcensurer)
noun
Word origin
L censura < censor, censor
Examples of 'censure' in a sentence
censure
It is an act of vandalism for which the party deserves censure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Public censure should be reserved largely for those who pulled the trigger.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His son does not escape censure.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But he could hardly escape censure.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
Violence and jail receive strong censure.
Christianity Today (2000)
As a result, the country faces international censure.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Show no public censure for your dying elephant, either.
Stanley Bing THROWING THE ELEPHANT (2002)
Enforcement proceedings could lead to public censure, bans from working in financial services or fines.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other circumstances one might expect the uncertainties of a power transfer to encourage a dictatorship to keep its head down and avoid international censure.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The idea would be that the risk of public censure would force governments to act in a more consistent long-term manner.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some journalists also deserve censure.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He avoided censure through his reputation for being proved right and the certainty that he spoke in the general interest - not his own.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He may have been censured by public opinion, but if that is the gauge, where does it stop?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
censure
British English: censure VERB
If you censure someone for something that they have done, you tell them that you strongly disapprove of it.
The ethics committee may take a decision to censure him.
American English: censure
Brazilian Portuguese: censurar
Chinese: 谴责
European Spanish: censurar
French: critiquer
German: tadeln
Italian: censurare
Japanese: 非難する
Korean: 책망하다
European Portuguese: censurar
Latin American Spanish: censurar
(verb)
Definition
to criticize (someone or something) severely
I would not presume to censure him for his views.
Synonyms
criticize
His mother had rarely criticized him or any of her children.
blame
I do not blame them for trying to make some money.
abuse
He alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers.
condemn
Political leaders united yesterday to condemn the latest wave of violence.
carpet (informal)
flame (informal)
denounce
The leaders took the opportunity to denounce the attacks.
put down
slate (informal)
Slated by critics at the time, the film has since become a classic.
rebuke
They have been seriously rebuked.
reprimand
He was reprimanded by a teacher.
reproach
She is quick to reproach anyone.
scold
If he finds out, he'll scold me.
berate
Marion berated Joe for the noise he made.
castigate
She castigated him for having no intellectual interests.
chide
He is quick to chide his staff for any mistakes or oversights.
tear into (informal)
diss (slang)
blast
They have blasted the report.
read the riot act
reprove
Women were reproved if they did not wear hats.
upbraid
Eleanor upbraided him for things he'd left undone.
slap on the wrist
damn
You can't damn him for his beliefs.
lambast(e)
bawl out (informal)
excoriate
rap over the knuckles
chew out (US, Canadian, informal)
tear (someone) off a strip (British, informal)
give (someone) a rocket (British, New Zealand, informal)
reprehend
Opposites
applaud
, compliment,
commend
,
laud (literary)
(noun)
Definition
severe disapproval
It is a controversial policy which has attracted international censure.
Synonyms
disapproval
His action had been greeted with almost universal disapproval.
criticism
The policy had repeatedly come under strong criticism.
blame
condemnation
There was widespread condemnation of Saturday's riots.
rebuke
`Silly little boy' was his favourite expression of rebuke.
reprimand
He has been given a severe reprimand.
reproach
Her reproach was automatic.
dressing down (informal)
stick (slang)
stricture
a thinly disguised stricture against the rights of man
reproof
a reproof that she responded to right away
sideswipe
castigation
Helen's merciless castigation of her staff in public
obloquy
remonstrance
reprehension
Opposites
approval
,
encouragement
, compliment,
commendation
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abuse
Definition
to speak insultingly or cruelly to
He alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers.
Synonyms
insult,
injure,
offend,
curse,
put down,
smear,
libel,
slate (informal, British),
slag (off) (slang),
malign,
scold,
swear at,
disparage,
castigate,
revile,
vilify,
slander,
diss (slang),
defame,
upbraid,
slight,
flame (informal),
inveigh against,
call names,
traduce (formal),
calumniate,
vituperate
in the sense of berate
Definition
to scold harshly
Marion berated Joe for the noise he made.
Synonyms
scold,
rebuke,
reprimand,
reproach,
blast,
carpet (informal),
put down,
criticize,
slate (informal, British),
censure,
castigate,
revile,
chide,
harangue,
tear into (informal),
tell off (informal),
rail at,
flame (informal),
diss (slang),
read the riot act to,
reprove,
upbraid,
slap on the wrist,
lambast(e),
bawl out (informal),
excoriate,
rap over the knuckles,
chew out (US, Canadian, informal),
tear (someone) off a strip (British, informal),
give a rocket (British, New Zealand, informal),
vituperate
in the sense of blame
I do not blame them for trying to make some money.