Well-read · Commonly confused · Politics & society
Censure: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Censure noun. Strong, formal criticism or disapproval.
How to say it
SEN-shuh/ˈsɛnʃə/
2 syllables, stressed on the first (SEN).
Censure in a sentence
The minister faced censure from her own party.
The committee voted to censure the senator for misusing funds.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- condemnation
- criticism
- rebuke
- reproof
Opposite:
- praise
- approval
Usage note
To censure is to criticise formally; to censor is to cut or suppress material. A newspaper might censure a government for trying to censor it.
Where censure comes from
From Latin censura, the office of a Roman censor, who judged citizens' conduct.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The committee voted to _____ the senator for misusing funds.
- ordnance
- compliment
- censure
Show the answer
censure: The committee voted to censure the senator for misusing funds.