Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 19, 2023 is: censure \SEN-sher\ verb

To censure someone is to formally criticize or [reprimand](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reprimand#h2) them for an act or failure, especially from a position of authority.

// He was censured by the committee for his failure to report the problem.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censure)

Examples:

“Aware of recent occurrences in Deltona, whose City Commission censured one of its members for naming a private citizen and posting insults and vulgar comments about him on social media, [Mayor Gary] Blair said Orange City should declare such behavior out of bounds.” — Al Everson, The West Volusia Beacon (DeLand, Florida), 9 Mar. 2023

Did you know?

If you’re among those who confuse censure and [censor](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censor#h2), we don’t blame you. The two words are notably similar in spelling and pronunciation, and both typically imply acts of authority. It’s no surprise that they share a common ancestor: the Latin cēnsēre, meaning “to give as an opinion.” But here’s the uncensored truth: despite the similarities, censure and censor are wholly distinct in meaning. Censure means “to fault or reprimand,” often in an official way; censor means “to suppress or delete as objectionable.” So if you’re talking about removing objectionable content from a book or banning it from a library, the word you want is censor. And you can use censure to talk about criticizing, condemning, or reprimanding those pushing for censorship.