Cool MateCondemn vs Denounce
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Condemn
FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1verb
Denounce
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)C1verb
Most common: Condemn
| Condemn | Denounce | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈdem/","/kənˈdemz/","/kənˈdemd/","/kənˈdemɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈdem/","/kənˈdemz/","/kənˈdemd/","/kənˈdemɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈnaʊns//🇺🇸 //dɪˈnaʊns// |
| Meaning | to say that something is wrong or bad | To publicly express strong disapproval of something or someone. |
| Example | The court decided to condemn the defendant to ten years in prison. | The activist decided to denounce the government's unfair policies. |
| Register | Formal | Formal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | roundly, strongly, vehemently, for, be widely condemned | denounce violence, denounce corruption, denounce injustice |
| Antonyms | praise, commend, endorse | praise, endorse, support |
| Common mistakes | 'Condemn' is sometimes confused with 'commend', which means to praise., Learners might use 'condemn' with the wrong preposition, like saying 'condemn for' instead of 'condemn to'., Some may struggle with the spelling, often misspelling as 'condem'. | Confused with 'announce'; they mean different things., Using 'denounce' without a clear subject or object., Overusing 'denounce' in casual conversations. |
| Usage notes | Used when expressing strong disapproval of actions, behaviors, or decisions. Appropriate in legal or moral contexts, but might seem too strong in casual conversations. | Use 'denounce' in formal contexts, such as politics or law. Avoid informal situations where a softer phrase might be better. |
Frequently asked questions: Condemn vs Denounce
What's the difference between Condemn and Denounce?
Condemn: to say that something is wrong or bad Denounce: To publicly express strong disapproval of something or someone.
Which is more common: Condemn and Denounce?
Condemn is the most common in everyday English.
Are Condemn and Denounce the same CEFR level?
Condemn: C1, Denounce: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Condemn and Denounce interchangeably?
Not always. Condemn and Denounce are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.