sweeping condemnation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sweeping condemnation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong and comprehensive disapproval or criticism of something, often in a formal or serious context. Example: "The report issued a sweeping condemnation of the government's handling of the crisis, highlighting numerous failures and missteps."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

IT is, of course, unfair to make a sweeping condemnation of all the athletes who participate.

The New York Times

I have a nasty feeling that most pre-1992 scientific discoveries would be invalidated by this sweeping condemnation.

The Guardian

Goodrich wrote back, "By too sweeping condemnation you can do great harm to artists and to the public's relation to all living art".

The New York Times - Arts

But given the sweeping condemnation, it is hard to see how Mr. Jiang could make the film acceptable even if he tried.

The New York Times

This line was surely directed at Obama's position on the Iraq war, but many saw it as a sweeping condemnation of the Obama candidacy, as if the very notion of a black president is fanciful.

The Guardian - Opinion

In some instances the emotional need to confront the misdeeds of nazism and expose the complicity and guilt of those who participated in them has led to crude and sweeping condemnation where historians should be making careful distinctions.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

— Trump careened from threats to sweeping condemnations and back again in his Phoenix rally on Tuesday night.

The Washington Post

According to her book jacket bio, Ms. Coulter's expertise in delivering such sweeping condemnations derives from having been "named one of the top 100 public intellectuals by federal judge Richard Posner in 2001".

The New York Times

Re "Death Toll Rises in Egyptian Bombings" (front page, July 24) and "5 Shots in a Train Car Leave Londoners Shaken" (front page, July 23): As the tragic events in London and Egypt unfold, it is not surprising, although it is regrettable, that frightened and worried people who see themselves as potential victims may react with sweeping condemnations of entire ethnic or religious groups.

The New York Times

In response, some of the largest Muslim organizations have issued sweeping condemnations of the militant group's extremism.

Huffington Post

President Barack Obama has called on the world's Muslims to "explicitly, forcefully and consistently reject" the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, while Secretary of State John Kerry recently said that Muslims need to "reclaim Islam". In response, some of the largest Muslim organizations have issued sweeping condemnations of the militant group's extremism.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sweeping condemnation" when you want to emphasize the comprehensive and broad nature of the disapproval. Ensure the context supports such a wide-ranging negative assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "sweeping condemnation" when a more targeted or specific criticism is more appropriate. Overusing the phrase can weaken its impact and suggest a lack of careful consideration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sweeping condemnation" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the object of a verb (e.g., "issue a sweeping condemnation") or as a complement to a preposition (e.g., "in the face of a sweeping condemnation"). As Ludwig AI indicates, it is a usable and correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sweeping condemnation" is a noun phrase used to describe a comprehensive and forceful expression of disapproval. It is grammatically correct and suitable for neutral to formal contexts, frequently appearing in news and media sources. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English, serving to emphasize the broad and encompassing nature of the criticism. While alternatives like "broad censure" or "comprehensive criticism" exist, "sweeping condemnation" is particularly effective when conveying a complete and thorough rejection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

broad censure

Emphasizes the wide scope of the disapproval.

comprehensive criticism

Highlights the thoroughness of the critique.

general disapproval

Indicates a widespread lack of approval.

widespread denunciation

Suggests a public and vehement expression of disapproval from many sources.

wholesale rejection

Implies a complete and total dismissal.

blanket condemnation

Similar to "sweeping condemnation", but can sometimes imply a lack of discrimination.

complete castigation

Emphasizes the severity of the rebuke.

total condemnation

Highlights the totality of the disapproval.

utter disapproval

Focuses on the intensity and completeness of the negative sentiment.

severe censure

Highlights the gravity of the disapproval.

FAQs

What does "sweeping condemnation" mean?

It refers to a broad and comprehensive expression of strong disapproval or criticism, covering many aspects of something.

How can I use "sweeping condemnation" in a sentence?

You might say, "The report issued a sweeping condemnation of the company's environmental practices." This indicates a complete and thorough disapproval of all aspects of their environmental actions.

What are some alternatives to "sweeping condemnation"?

You can use alternatives like "broad censure", "comprehensive criticism", or "widespread denunciation" depending on the specific context.

Is "sweeping condemnation" the same as "general disapproval"?

While similar, "sweeping condemnation" implies a more thorough and forceful expression of disapproval than "general disapproval", which can be more mild and less encompassing.