“Endorse” vs. “condone”

Question

What is the difference in meaning/connotation between the two words? Is endorse "stronger", more positive?

Also, endorse is to endorsement as condone is to what? Is there a noun counterpart?

Answer 1

To "endorse" is to say that you approve of something, you are for it. To "condone" is to say that you accept or tolerate it. You condone something that you think is a bad idea or a wrong action but that is forgivable or understandable given the circumstances. You endore seomthing that you think is a positive good and that you encourage. So yes, "endorse" is a much stronger positive.

thefreedictionary.com lists "condonation" as the noun form of "condone", but I don't recall ever seeing this word used. If you need it, it's there, but I'd avoid it as unlikely to be familiar to your audience.

Answer 2

Endorse has a more positive connotation than does condone.

Condone means you have overlooked an offense (possibly without comment). It is often used in a negative sense: "I cannot condone your behavior."

Endorse means you give something or someone a thumbs-up, an approval, and your support, usually publicly. There are numerous examples of its use in this American election year.

The noun form of condone is condonation, defined as: the act of condoning, especially the implied forgiveness of an offense by ignoring it.

Answer 3

They mean completely different things. Merriam-Webster has

• endorse to approve openly; to recommend
• condone to treat something blameworthy as acceptable (or at least, not unacceptable)

ODO has condonation for the noun.