condemned

/kənˈdemd/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈdemd/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˈdemd/ (ame, mw)

condemned — adjective

  • condemnedpositive
  • more condemnedcomparative
  • most condemnedsuperlative

1. Used to describe a prisoner whom a court has ordered to be executed, normally af

1.形容詞C1
釋義

Used to describe a prisoner whom a court has ordered to be executed, normally after a murder conviction or another extremely grave offence.

例句

The condemned man, Dario, asked to see a priest the night before the execution.

attributive: condemned + man/woman/prisoner

Tamar refused to photograph any of the condemned prisoners during her prison visit.

同義詞
  • doomed

    broader — applies to anything sure to fail or die, not only legal sentencing

  • sentenced

    covers any criminal sentence, not specifically the death penalty

反義詞
  • pardoned

    released from the sentence rather than awaiting it

文法句型

condemned + noun (man, woman, prisoner, criminal)

用法筆記

Almost always attributive (before a noun like 'man', 'prisoner', 'cell'). Subject is the person under sentence of death, never the crime itself.

常見錯誤

The murderer was condemned to die in his cell.
The condemned murderer waited in his cell.
💡the adjective describes the person; use the verb 'condemn' for the act of sentencing.

2. Marked by inspectors as too dangerous for people to enter or too unsafe to eat,

2.形容詞C1
釋義

Marked by inspectors as too dangerous for people to enter or too unsafe to eat, so the building or food can no longer be used.

例句

The city tore down a row of condemned houses near the old harbour last spring.

attributive: condemned + building noun

Yara warned the children to stay away from the condemned warehouse on Maple Street.

同義詞
  • uninhabitable

    describes only living spaces; doesn't extend to food or vehicles

  • derelict

    describes abandoned, run-down state without implying an official ruling

反義詞
  • habitable

    officially or practically safe to live in

文法句型

condemned + noun (building, house, meat)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes objects (buildings, food), never people. Subject is usually a structure inspectors have officially declared unsafe.

常見錯誤

The food tasted condemned.
The food had been condemned by health inspectors.
💡'condemned' here marks an official ruling, not a personal opinion about taste or quality.