condemnable

condemnable — adjective

  • condemnablepositive
  • more condemnablecomparative
  • most condemnablesuperlative

1. deserving strong public criticism or moral disapproval because it goes against a

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

deserving strong public criticism or moral disapproval because it goes against accepted standards of right and wrong — for example, dishonest business practices or unfair treatment of workers.

Example

Tamar called the politician's dishonest actions deeply condemnable.

adverb + adjective: deeply condemnable

The court ruled that the company's treatment of its workers was condemnable.

passive-like: be + condemnable after ruling/judgment

Common collocations
  • condemnable act
  • condemnable behavior
  • condemnable practice
  • condemnable conduct
  • condemnable treatment
  • morally condemnable
  • ethically condemnable
  • deeply condemnable
  • utterly condemnable
Synonyms
  • reprehensible

    stronger, suggests deep moral fault; more literary than 'condemnable'

  • blameworthy

    focuses on personal responsibility; less formal and less severe

  • deplorable

    emphasizes shock or regret; often used for broader situations

Antonyms
  • commendable

    praiseworthy — opposite of deserving criticism

  • praiseworthy

    more informal than 'commendable'; suggests genuine approval

Grammar Patterns

condemnable + noun

be + condemnable

Usage Note

Frequently used in formal or legal contexts to describe actions that violate moral or ethical norms. Less common in everyday conversation — speakers often prefer 'wrong', 'unacceptable', or 'disgraceful'.

Common Mistakes

The criminal was condemnable for his actions' (using 'condemnable' for a person).
The criminal's actions were condemnable.
'condemnable' describes acts or behavior, not the person directly.
I condemnable that decision' (using 'condemnable' as a verb).
That decision was condemnable.
'condemnable' is an adjective; use 'condemn' as the verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something worthy of disapproval, but they differ in severity and focus. 'Condemnable' is the broadest — it applies to any act that merits strong public criticism. 'Reprehensible' is more intense, carrying a sense of deep moral outrage; it is the strongest of the group and appears most often in formal writing. 'Blameworthy' shifts the focus to personal fault and responsibility, making it more appropriate when assigning specific blame rather than expressing general disapproval. 'Deplorable' leans toward regret and shock, and is often used for broad social conditions (e.g., 'deplorable living conditions') rather than individual acts. Use 'condemnable' when you want a formal but balanced judgment, 'reprehensible' for outrage, 'blameworthy' for assigning fault, and 'deplorable' for situations that cause dismay.

condemnable ↗reprehensible ↗blameworthydeplorable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a condemnable offense
  • condemnable in the eyes of
  • nothing condemnable about

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from the verb 'condemn' (from Latin condemnare — com- 'together' + damnare 'to inflict loss, to condemn') plus the suffix '-able' meaning 'worthy of'. The word entered English in the 16th century, originally carrying legal overtones of something deserving formal judgement, before broadening to moral and social criticism.