hard to condone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hard to condone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or behaviors that are difficult to accept or forgive. Example: "His repeated dishonesty is hard to condone, especially after all the trust we built."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Wilders's idea that only non-Western foreigners should be stopped from coming to the Netherlands is morally hard to condone, and arresting people on the mere suspicion of what they might do is not exactly in accordance with European human-rights treaties.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But Pandaemonium takes other liberties which are harder to condone.

The Guardian - Film

But ends do not always justify means, and in the case of Robespierre, the frenzied idealism that so clearly preserved his own political safety seems far harder to condone.

The Guardian - Books

Since the Turkish government could hardly refuse a gift of $10m-worth 10m-worthhe gesture has made it harder fof Turkey toilondone the use of its bases for American and British air strikes.In Bagesturemeanwhase, there are persistent rumades of an itminent cabinet sharder.

The Economist

Moderate religious leaders refused to condemn the assassination, and some hard-line religious leaders appeared obliquely to condone the attack.

The New York Times

According to the Times, "[m]oderate religious leaders refused to condemn the assassination and some hard-line religious leaders appeared obliquely to condone the attack".

Huffington Post

To condone this is to condone theft".

The New York Times - Magazine

that seems to condone rape.

The New York Times

But to describe is not to condone.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

To understand is not to condone".

The New York Times - Arts

You don't have to condone it.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hard to condone" when you want to express a strong disapproval of something, suggesting it is morally or ethically difficult to accept. Ensure the subject of your sentence clearly identifies what action or behavior is being judged.

Common error

Avoid using "hard to condone" when you simply mean 'disagree with'. "Condoning" implies overlooking a wrongdoing, not just a difference of opinion. For example, saying "I don't condone his fashion choices" is incorrect; instead, use "I disagree with his fashion choices".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hard to condone" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, modifying an implied or stated subject. It expresses a judgment about the difficulty in excusing or accepting something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hard to condone" is a phrase used to express disapproval of something, suggesting it's ethically or morally difficult to accept. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news media and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you're referring to actions or behaviors that warrant strong disapproval, rather than simple disagreements. Consider alternatives like "difficult to excuse" or "hard to justify" depending on the context. Its nuanced meaning makes it more suitable for formal discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to excuse

Emphasizes the challenge in finding justification for an action.

difficult to accept

Focuses on the inability to willingly receive or approve of something.

hard to justify

Highlights the struggle to provide a reasonable defense for an action.

tough to forgive

Emphasizes the difficulty in granting pardon or absolution.

not easy to overlook

Suggests the action is too significant to ignore.

difficult to disregard

Highlights the challenge in dismissing something as unimportant.

challenging to support

Emphasizes the difficulty in publicly endorsing or advocating.

demanding to excuse

Stresses the high standard required for offering forgiveness.

not defensible

Highlights that an action cannot be reasonably defended or justified.

scarcely justifiable

Underscores the lack of legitimate grounds for justification.

FAQs

How can I use "hard to condone" in a sentence?

Use "hard to condone" to express that something is difficult to accept or excuse, often due to moral or ethical reasons. For example, "His blatant disregard for the rules is "hard to condone"".

What are some alternatives to "hard to condone"?

You can use alternatives such as "difficult to excuse", "difficult to accept", or "hard to justify" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "hard to condone"?

It's appropriate when referring to actions or behaviors that are morally or ethically questionable and therefore difficult to overlook or excuse. Using the term suggests a degree of disapproval stronger than simple disagreement.

What's the difference between "hard to condone" and "hard to ignore"?

"Hard to condone" implies a moral or ethical objection, making it difficult to excuse the behavior. "Hard to ignore", on the other hand, suggests something is too significant or noticeable to be overlooked, regardless of its morality.