I was condemned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was condemned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is expressing that they have been judged or sentenced, often in a moral, legal, or social sense. Example: "After the trial, I felt as though I was condemned for my actions, even though I believed I had done the right thing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Personal Experiences

Literature

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I hadn't even begun shooting it and I was condemned".

The Guardian

I was condemned to a secondary role because I had nothing in particular to offer.

The New Yorker

I do have an experimental instinct and I thought that meant I was condemned to writing for completely obscure publishers.

The Guardian

"Unable to move for over half an hour, I was condemned to watch them cry for help, throw up, plead for their lives and die," he wrote.

Independent

In his book, he writes: "No one wanted to acknowledge that we were heading for an extremely serious downturn … I was condemned for having said no more than was true".

The Guardian

I already knew that the role I was condemned to, namely to keep quiet and do what I was told, gave me the perfect opportunity to listen and observe.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

("I knew that, being Howard's producer, I was condemning myself to a lifetime of hearing impressions from strangers," he says ruefully).

The New Yorker

How could I teach him that you have to find something good in everyone when there I was condemning someone to death?

The New York Times - Magazine

So despite how I felt about the industry, if I was condemning but not offering solutions, all I'd be doing was vilifying the dancers.

Vice

I know it was condemned at the time as being somehow chaotic and random.

The Guardian - Music

'If I speak, I am condemned.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I was condemned", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the condemning and the basis for the condemnation. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "I was condemned" in situations where simpler terms like "I was criticized" or "I was judged" would suffice. Overusing strong language can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was condemned" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the speaker was the recipient of an act of condemnation. This grammatical structure places emphasis on the speaker and their experience of being judged or sentenced. As the Ludwig AI shows, this phrase appears across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Personal Experiences

15%

Literature

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was condemned" is a grammatically correct passive construction that indicates the speaker has been the recipient of condemnation. As identified by Ludwig, this condemnation can be legal, moral, or social in nature. The frequency of this phrase is categorized as common, appearing most often in news and media contexts. When writing, ensure the context clearly explains who is condemning and why to maximize clarity. Alternatives like "I was judged harshly" or "I was criticized severely" may be more appropriate depending on the severity of the situation. Overall, "I was condemned" is a powerful phrase to convey a sense of strong judgment or sentencing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was judged harshly

Focuses on the severity of the judgment received.

I was sentenced

Implies a formal legal punishment was given.

I was criticized severely

Emphasizes strong disapproval and negative feedback.

I was found guilty

Highlights a legal determination of culpability.

I was ostracized

Indicates social exclusion as a consequence.

I faced strong disapproval

Emphasizes the feeling of being strongly unaccepted.

I was heavily censured

Indicates a formal reprimand or expression of disapproval.

I was frowned upon

Suggests a milder form of disapproval, often societal.

I was doomed

Emphasizes a fate or destiny, often negative.

I was vilified

Suggests that someone was portrayed as a villain.

FAQs

How can I use "I was condemned" in a sentence?

Use "I was condemned" to express that you have been strongly judged or sentenced, either formally or informally. For instance, "I was condemned by my peers for my controversial opinions."

What can I say instead of "I was condemned"?

You can use alternatives like "I was judged harshly", "I was sentenced", or "I was criticized severely" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I was condemned" or "I am condemned"?

"I was condemned" indicates a past event, while "I am condemned" suggests a current state or ongoing judgment. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning and the time frame you are referencing.

What's the difference between "I was condemned" and "I was criticized"?

"I was condemned" implies a stronger, often moral or ethical judgment, whereas "I was criticized" suggests disapproval or negative feedback. Condemnation carries a heavier weight than criticism.