censure
1 of 2noun
cen·sure ˈsen(t)-shər 
1
: a judgment involving condemnation
unorthodox practices awaiting the censure of the city council
2
: the act of blaming or condemning sternly
The country faces international censure for its alleged involvement in the assassination.
3
: an official reprimand
The lawyer's misconduct resulted in a letter of censure from the judge.
4
archaic : opinion, judgment
censure
2 of 2verb
censured; censuring ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)riŋ
transitive verb
1
a
: to find fault with and criticize as blameworthy
She would tell him it was … no sign of a good pastor to be eternally censuring his flock.
Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë b
: to formally reprimand (someone) : to express official censure of (someone)
While a vote to censure the president has no legal ramifications, it is a significant and rare symbolic vote of disapproval. Emma Loop
Emma Loop2
obsolete : estimate, judge
censurer
ˈsen(t)-shər-ər
noun 
Did you know?
Censure Has an Offical Connotation
Censure and its synonyms criticize, reprehend, condemn, and denounce all essentially mean "to find fault with openly." Additionally, censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and often refers to an official action. Criticize implies finding fault with someone's methods, policies, or intentions, as in "the commentator criticized the manager's bullpen strategy." Reprehend implies sharp criticism or disapproval, as in "a teacher who reprehends poor grammar." Condemn usually suggests a final unfavorable judgment, as in "the group condemned the court's decision." Denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration, as in "her letter to the editor denounced the corrupt actions of the mayor's office."
Synonyms
Noun
- commination
- condemnation
- denunciation
- excoriation
- objurgation
- rebuke
- reprimand
- reproach
- reproof
- riot act
- stricture
Verb
- condemn
- denounce
- objurgate
- rebuke
- reprimand
- reproach
- reprove
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The country faces international censure for its alleged involvement in the assassination. a rare censure of a senator by the full United States Senate for misconduct Verb He was censured by the committee for his failure to report the problem. a vote to censure the President for conduct that was unbecoming to his office
Recent Examples on the Web Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 In June, the U.S. and their European allies won overwhelming backing for a censure resolution at the IAEA Board calling on Tehran to cooperate with the probe. Laurence Norman, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 In its censure resolution, the Jessamine County Republican Party said the bill McConnell supported June 24 violates the Second, Fifth and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The Courier-Journal, 23 July 2022 The censure resolution from the state party criticized Bowers for a number of actions as a state House member, including on election integrity, immigration and gender identity. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 July 2022 Townsend called on Rogers to apologize and further condemned her when Rogers started to fundraise off of the bipartisan censure vote. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2022 The tension between the commissioners — who were meeting virtually — built up prior to the censure vote. Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2022 Iran avoided facing a censure vote at the board with a similar Grossi visit in September. The Associated. Press, Arkansas Online, 24 Nov. 2021 Shortly after his censure vote, Gosar reposted the offending tweet. Nolan D. Mccaskill, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2021 From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 13 July 2021 But ahead of a visit by Trump to Arizona in July, the state Republican Party voted to censure him. Caroline Linton, CBS News, 3 Aug. 2022 Plus, more division in Washington, where only two Republicans vote to censure Congressman Paul Gosar after his violent video targeting Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. REP. NBC News, 21 Nov. 2021 House Republican leaders recommended their members vote no on the resolution to censure Gosar. Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2021 The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog urged Iran on Monday to cooperate with his inspectors amid a standoff over its atomic program and a threat by Western nations to censure Tehran over its noncooperation. Emily Schultheis, ajc, 6 June 2022 Some Utah Republicans have repeatedly tried to censure Romney for those two votes. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Apr. 2022 The Lakota Local School District board of education voted to censure new board member Darbi Boddy and asked her to resign Wednesday. Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 27 Apr. 2022 The state’s most visible LGBTQ rights lobbyist called for the House to censure Helmer. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2022 See More
Noun
Iran’s refusal to cooperate with the IAEA investigation led to a censure resolution this year from the agency’s board of governors. Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 In June, the U.S. and their European allies won overwhelming backing for a censure resolution at the IAEA Board calling on Tehran to cooperate with the probe. Laurence Norman, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 In its censure resolution, the Jessamine County Republican Party said the bill McConnell supported June 24 violates the Second, Fifth and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The Courier-Journal, 23 July 2022 The censure resolution from the state party criticized Bowers for a number of actions as a state House member, including on election integrity, immigration and gender identity. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 July 2022 Townsend called on Rogers to apologize and further condemned her when Rogers started to fundraise off of the bipartisan censure vote. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2022 The tension between the commissioners — who were meeting virtually — built up prior to the censure vote. Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2022 Iran avoided facing a censure vote at the board with a similar Grossi visit in September. The Associated. Press, Arkansas Online, 24 Nov. 2021 Shortly after his censure vote, Gosar reposted the offending tweet. Nolan D. Mccaskill, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2021 Verb
On March 13, the Republican State Central Committee voted 53-17 to censure Murkowski, citing her vote to impeach Trump and other votes that have broken with GOP leadership. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 13 July 2021 But ahead of a visit by Trump to Arizona in July, the state Republican Party voted to censure him. Caroline Linton, CBS News, 3 Aug. 2022 Plus, more division in Washington, where only two Republicans vote to censure Congressman Paul Gosar after his violent video targeting Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. REP. NBC News, 21 Nov. 2021 House Republican leaders recommended their members vote no on the resolution to censure Gosar. Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2021 The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog urged Iran on Monday to cooperate with his inspectors amid a standoff over its atomic program and a threat by Western nations to censure Tehran over its noncooperation. Emily Schultheis, ajc, 6 June 2022 Some Utah Republicans have repeatedly tried to censure Romney for those two votes. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Apr. 2022 The Lakota Local School District board of education voted to censure new board member Darbi Boddy and asked her to resign Wednesday. Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 27 Apr. 2022 The state’s most visible LGBTQ rights lobbyist called for the House to censure Helmer. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French censure, borrowed from Latin cēnsūa "office of censor, assessment, moral oversight," from cēnsēre "to give as an opinion, perform the duties of a censor" + -ūra -ure — more at censor entry 1
Verb
derivative of censure entry 1, probably after Middle French censurer
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Verb
1590, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
censure 1 of 2
noun
cen·sure ˈsen-shər
1
: the act of finding fault with or blaming
2
: an official criticism
censure
2 of 2verb
censured; censuring
: to find fault with especially publicly
Legal Definition
censure
noun
cen·sure ˈsen-chər
: an expression of official disapproval
a House resolution approving a censure of the representative
censuring 1 of 2
adjective
as in cavilling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cavilling
- faultfinding
- carping
- caviling
- captious
- disapproving
- hypercritical
- overcritical
- slighting
- uncomplimentary
- belittling
- disparaging
- unfavorable
- derogatory
- depreciatory
- unflattering
- critical
- adverse
- negative
- depreciative
- unappreciative
- contemptuous
- inappreciative
- unfriendly
- scornful
- disdainful
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approving
- favorable
- positive
- commendatory
- good
- accepting
- admiring
- appreciative
- friendly
- complimentary
- applauding
- approbatory
- warm
- flattering
- laudatory
- eulogistic
- encomiastic
- panegyrical
- hagiographical
- hagiographic
- praiseful
- laudative
censuring
2 of 2verb
1
as in reprimanding
to express public or formal disapproval of a vote to censure the President for conduct that was unbecoming to his office Synonyms & Similar Words
- reprimanding
- denouncing
- condemning
- punishing
- criticizing
- scolding
- reproaching
- reproving
- rebuking
- admonishing
- chastising
- upbraiding
- objurgating
- berating
- castigating
- bringing to account
- calling to account
- belittling
- disparaging
- lecturing
- lambasting
- ragging
- flaying
- deprecating
- jawing
- keelhauling
- cutting up
- telling off
- bawling out
- chewing out
- dressing down
- depreciating
- gibbeting
- rating
- scoring
- railing (at or against)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- endorsing
- commending
- indorsing
- citing
- honoring
- applauding
- praising
- approving
- hailing
- sanctioning
- acclaiming
- lauding
- eulogizing
- blessing
2
as in denouncing
to declare to be morally wrong or evil our society generally censures the taking of another person's life Synonyms & Similar Words
- denouncing
- criticizing
- condemning
- blaming
- attacking
- decrying
- anathematizing
- damning
- execrating
- reprobating
- disparaging
- belittling
- faulting
- upbraiding
- chiding
- excommunicating
- chastising
- scolding
- admonishing
- deprecating
- convicting
- sentencing
- berating
- reprehending
- reprimanding
- reproaching
- rebuking
- castigating
- hating
- panning
- reproving
- ostracizing
- blacklisting
- slamming
- knocking
- dooming
- reviling
- detesting
- abhorring
- lambasting
- blasting
- loathing
- dissing
- dispraising
- raking
- cursing
- vituperating
- abominating
- imprecating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approving
- endorsing
- indorsing
- sanctioning
- praising
- commending
- lauding
- exalting
- blessing
- applauding
- eulogizing
- glorifying
- saluting
- acclaiming
- hailing
- honoring
- touting
- consecrating
- sanctifying
- extolling
- revering
- hallowing
- venerating
3
as in criticizing
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of critics have striven to outdo each other in censuring that pop novelist's latest work Synonyms & Similar Words
- criticizing
- blaming
- condemning
- denouncing
- faulting
- knocking
- attacking
- scolding
- slamming
- tweaking
- slagging
- panning
- complaining
- slashing
- lashing
- dissing
- admonishing
- kicking
- dispraising
- chiding
- upbraiding
- reprehending
- blasting
- assailing
- reprimanding
- reproaching
- finding fault (with)
- rebuking
- reproving
- berating
- muttering
- murmuring
- skewering
- whining
- castigating
- coming down hard (on)
- excoriating
- taking to task
- disparaging
- deriding
- belittling
- pillorying
- caviling
- grumbling
- moaning
- carping
- cavilling
- crucifying
- clobbering
- lambasting
- bellyaching
- bitching
- beefing
- decrying
- grousing
- griping
- quibbling
- flaying
- kvetching
- growling
- drubbing
- niggling
- bad-mouthing
- hammering
- crabbing
- keelhauling
- croaking
- fussing
- sniping (at)
- gibbeting
- nicking (at)
- discommending
- putting down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praising
- approving
- lauding
- commending
- endorsing
- recommending
- indorsing
- sanctioning
- extolling