condemn
UK: kənˈdɛm | US: kənˈdɛm
vt. to express strong disapproval of someone or something as wrong or unacceptable
vt. to impose a legal punishment or sentence on someone
vt. (of circumstances) to force someone into an unhappy state or situation
The word "condemn" originates from Latin condemnare, combining con- (intensive prefix meaning "together" or "thoroughly") and damnare (to inflict loss or harm, from damnum "damage"). The core idea is "to pronounce judgment against" or "to inflict punishment." Over time, it evolved in Old French as condamner before entering Middle English with its modern spelling. The morpheme demn preserves the Latin root's sense of harm or loss, while con- emphasizes the finality or severity of the judgment.
The government condemned the violent protests as a threat to public safety.
The judge condemned the criminal to life imprisonment.
Poor planning condemned the project to failure from the start.
Human rights organizations condemned the unjust laws.
The old house was condemned due to its unstable structure.