censure

/ˈsen(t)-shər/

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French censure, borrowed from Latin cēnsūa "office of censor, assessment, moral oversight," from cēnsēre "to give as an opinion, perform the duties of a censor" + -ūra -ure

noun

  1. a judgment involving condemnation

  2. the act of blaming or condemning sternly

  3. an official reprimand

unorthodox practices awaiting the censure of the city council

verb

  1. to find fault with and criticize as blameworthy

  2. to formally reprimand (someone) : to express official censure of (someone)

  3. estimate, judge

She would tell him it was … no sign of a good pastor to be eternally censuring his flock.

While a vote to censure the president has no legal ramifications, it is a significant and rare symbolic vote of disapproval.

criticize reprehend censure reprobate condemn denounce mean to find fault with openly. criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions. reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking.