Ah, English! These four words are pronounced almost exactly alike (SEN-ser), except for censure, which is pronounced “SEN-shure.” Let's look at each more closely.
A censer (noun) is a kind of incense-holder. Incense is a mixture of herbs, wood, leaves, or other materials that one burns in order to create a pleasant smelling smoke. A censer is specifically the kind of incense-holder used traditionally in Catholic churches—a sort of metal basket attached to a chain, which is carried around to distribute the incense smoke.
A censor (noun) is a person who censors (verb); to censor means “to review and restrict the content of published or broadcast media”; in other words, the person who puts the “bleep” sound over “bad” words on television is a censor.
Censure, in contrast, is a verb related to censor. To censure means “to express disapproval regarding”:
The politician’s statements were censured by many for their apparent racism.
A sensor (noun) is a device, usually small, which registers any kind of stimulus or signal, such as light, sound, heat, movement, etc. We could say that the eye is a sensor. But we usually reserve sensor for machines:
Body-movement sensors are used to give realistic movements to CGI characters.
More Examples of How to Use "Censor" in a Sentence
- Erica has been censoring her blog comments since she was harassed by a man who posted hateful comments on her blog post.
- The censoring of books and other forms of media is a hot topic in the world of politics and free speech.
- There are many who believe that censorship is wrong, and that everyone has a right to freedom of speech.
- On the other hand, there are those who believe that censoring certain materials is necessary to protect society from harm.
- The school censored Joan’s poem from the school newspaper, so she withdrew her submission and published it online.
- The TV news station censored footage of the protests, in fear of the totalitarian government.
- Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are often criticized for censoring content that they deem inappropriate or offensive, though they are also criticized for not doing more.
- Today, censorship is used to block offensive or dangerous content from being accessed online.
- In ancient Greece, censorship was used to prevent the spread of rumors and to protect the reputations of powerful people.
- It's hard to believe that something as simple as a written word could cause such an uproar, but throughout history, censors have tried to control what people say and write.
More Examples of How to Use "Censure" in a Sentence
- Censure is often used by legislatures or other governing bodies to criticize the actions of government officials.
- In the United States, censure is not a legally binding punishment, but it can have political consequences for the person who is censured.
- The comments in question, which came from councilman Tony Cortes, have led to a formal censure by Mayor Anthony Williams.
- Citizens who engage in these types of speech are open to, if not deserving of, public censure.
- The professor was censured for hinting at the answers on a test.
- Managers should carefully consider all the potential consequences of censuring an employee before taking such a step.
- The censure of an employee can have a negative impact on the morale of other employees.
- The principal's words were so harsh that I felt as if I had been censured.
- Mr. Hall, the new headmaster, upon arriving, immediately began censuring students for their bad behavior.
- Carl was censured by the teachers' union for his inappropriate comments, even after issuing a formal apology.
More Examples of How to Use "Censer" in a Sentence
- Censers are often used in religious ceremonies.
- My friends and I gather round the large glass censer that sits atop the hall table and fills the room with fragrant incense.
- Censers come in many different shapes and sizes.
- I could smell the smoke from the censer all the way from my room.
- The priest placed the censer on the altar and lit it, as the congregation awaited the prayer.
- Williams uses a censer in his room to cover up the smell of unwashed laundry.
- There are many different types of censers, including brass, copper, silver, and gold censers. Some censers have intricate designs carved into them, while others are very simple.
More Examples of How to Use "Sensor" in a Sentence
- I can hear a sensor beeping, but I cannot see it anywhere.
- Sensors that detect changes in temperature as well as environmental changes.
- According to the alert on my phone, the sensor on my new refrigerator showed that the milk was almost gone.
- Big surprise: another sensor needs to be replaced in my new car; now I see how they make their profits.
- Sensors are expected to play a major role in the development of the "Internet of Things," which refers to the trend of connecting devices to the internet.
- Sensors can measure and analyze the performance of nearly any device, making it more accurate, precise, and reliable.
- Sensors can also be used to detect changes in the human body, such as heart rate or blood pressure.
- The new alarm system uses high-class sensors to detect motion and sound and send a signal to the central control panel.
- Brady and I are planning to place a sensor in the backyard to detect whether the children are playing outside.