Basic Details
Word: Condemned
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Said strongly and publicly that something was very wrong. It also means gave someone a punishment, or officially declared a building unsafe to use.
Synonyms: criticised, denounced, censured, sentenced
Antonyms: praised, approved, commended
How to Spell Condemned
Syllables: con - demned
Tricky part: The n at the end of condemn is silent, as in autumn and column, but it must still be written. Students write condemed or condemmed.
Watch out for: condemed, condemmed, condemnned
Memory tip: Say condemnation aloud and you can hear the hidden n: con-dem-na-tion. Keep that n in condemned.
Usage Examples
Example 1: World leaders condemned the attack on peaceful protesters.
Example 2: The editor condemned the cruel comments posted under the article.
Example 3: Many people condemned the dumping of waste into the Yamuna.
Fun Fact
When engineers find an old bridge or building dangerous, it can be officially condemned, and then no one may use it until it is repaired or pulled down.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word condemned as used in the sentence:
The newspaper strongly condemned the cutting down of the old banyan trees.
a) praised
b) attacked
c) criticised
d) denounced
Show answer
a) praised. Praising is speaking well of something; the other three all speak against it.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. solemn 2. condemed 3. column 4. hymn
a) spoke out strongly against something
b) serious and formal
c) a song of praise, often a religious one
d) a tall pillar, or a section of a printed page
Show answer
a) spoke out strongly against something. Condemn ends in mn like solemn, column and hymn; the n is silent but written.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The court ndeoncdem the smugglers to five years in prison.
a) commended
b) condemned
c) condensed
d) contended
Show answer
b) condemned. Two n's, two d's and an m, with no s or t, give only condemned.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A building that has been condemned ____.
a) may not be used until made safe
b) is open to visitors every day
c) has won a prize for its design
d) has just been freshly painted
Show answer
a) may not be used until made safe
2. If a minister condemns violence, she ____.
a) speaks out against it
b) takes part in it
c) reports on it as news
d) ignores it
Show answer
a) speaks out against it
