CENSURE Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

censure 1 of 2

noun

ˈsen(t)-shər

Definition of censure

as in condemnation

an often public or formal expression of disapproval a rare censure of a senator by the full United States Senate for misconduct

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censure

2 of 2

verb

as in to reprimand

to express public or formal disapproval of a vote to censure the President for conduct that was unbecoming to the office

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as in to denounce

to declare to be morally wrong or evil our society generally censures the taking of another person's life

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as in to criticize

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

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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

Council members thanked Saunders for his apology and the censure item was approved by 4-1 vote, with Saunders as the only no vote. — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 Several groups within Congress called for his censure, with one lawmaker even calling for his removal, prior to his decision to walk away from his campaign. — Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026

Verb

Rather than being censured for the debacle, however, Li was elevated by Xi to the top ranks of the Politburo Standing Committee in 2022 and made state premier in 2023. — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026 Indeed, the longtime congressman was censured in Congress for this matter, a subversion of democracy. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for censure

Recent Examples of Synonyms for censure

Noun

Trump’s move drew bipartisan condemnation from lawmakers who backed the measure overwhelmingly.

— Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Netanyahu has criticized the violence but has taken few steps to crack down on incidents that have drawn international condemnation and sanction plans by longtime Israeli allies, including Britain.

— Reuters, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of condemnation

Verb

Mandell was later formally reprimanded for allowing another client’s hearing to be delayed by six years, during which time two witnesses died.

— Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026
The Denver school board censured director Monica Hunter on Thursday night, the third time in five years that the governing body of Colorado’s largest K-12 district has publicly reprimanded a colleague.

— Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of reprimand

Verb

Many fans sympathized with Clarkson’s shopping experience and took to social media to denounce the actions taken by the shop.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
If the main predictor of racial disparities in prison is poverty, then denouncing police and prosecutors as racist won't shrink those gaps.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of denounce

Verb

Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, criticized the state's election officials for not cooperating with the department's demands.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
But others criticized the tactics used and family separations.

— Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticize

Verb

The brazen, unmasked calls to erase Israel triggered fierce bipartisan backlash from lawmakers condemning the rising wave of open extremism.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
State election groups condemned the mailings, saying staff should not fear for their safety.

— Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of condemn

Verb

Analysts blame the brand’s reliance on Chuck Taylors and question whether Nike might sell it, though Nike says Converse remains an important part of its portfolio.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Macron acknowledged legitimate concerns of the protesters, while blaming the far left for the violence.

— Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of blame

Verb

Many of his domestic critics have faulted him for prolonging the war in Gaza to appease his far-right allies, and for permitting ultra-Orthodox Jews to forgo military service to appease that sizable religious voter bloc.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
For boards and CXOs, fault tolerance, error correction, economics and demonstrable advantage still matter.

— Rajjie Sarmey, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of fault

Verb

At the root of the crisis is inadequate laws to punish offenders and a poor judicial system, activists say.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Yeah, this is my PhD work, focused on the ways in which soybeans, so legumes, are able to discriminate and actually punish.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of punish

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censurable

censure

censured

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“Censure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/censure. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of censure

noun

verb

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