denounce

verb de·nounce \ di-ˈnau̇n(t)s , dē- \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: denounce in a Sentence

Definition of denounce

denounced; denouncing

transitive verb

1 : to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil

they denounced him as a bigot

Others might cry or get bent out of shape when their personal tastes are denounced and ridiculed, but not him …
—David Sedaris

2 archaic

a : proclaim

b : to announce threateningly

3 : to inform (see inform 2) against : accuse

was denounced to the authorities

4 obsolete : portend

5 : to announce formally the termination of (something, such as a treaty)

denounced the arrangement with their former ally

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denouncement

play \-ˈnau̇n(t)-smənt\ noun

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denouncer

noun

See denounce defined for English-language learners

See denounce defined for kids

Examples of denounce in a Sentence

The government called on the group to denounce the use of violence.
The film was denounced for the way it portrayed its female characters.

Recent Examples of denounce from the Web

Bell joins a large group of celebrities – including Kevin Costner, Reese Witherspoon, Eva Longoria and Willie Nelson – who have publicly denounced the administration’s border policy.

— kathleen joyce, Fox News, "Kristen Bell blasts Trump administration's immigration policies, says 'families fight back'," 13 July 2018
Defense attorneys have said there is no real choice and have denounced the process as coercive.

— patrick j. mcdonnell, latimes.com, "'What if I lose her forever?' In Guatemala, a couple fears for their child still in detention in U.S.," 10 July 2018
Local archives have not yielded one instance of neighbor denouncing neighbor—a solidarity known as le miracle de silence.

— lucian perkins, Smithsonian, "This French Town Has Welcomed Refugees for 400 Years," 27 June 2018
And Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which publicly denounced the Trump administration’s child-separation policy, signed a $75 million contract in September 2017 to run the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s network operations center.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "Amazon Workers to Jeff Bezos: Stop Weaponizing Our Tech," 22 June 2018
Roy Rochlin / Getty Images Apple’s Tim Cook, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Tesla’s Elon Musk are among the prominent tech industry CEOs who denounced President Trump’s policy of separating children from their parents who are arrested at the border.

— recode staff, Recode, "Recode Daily: Tech CEOs take on Trump; AT&T plans more ad and media acquisitions," 20 June 2018
By voice vote Tuesday, the City Council approved the resolution that denounces slavery and promises a more tolerant future.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "Charleston, SC, Apologizes for Its Role During the Slave Trade in City Council Resolution," 20 June 2018
In Colombia Semana, a news magazine, has a long tradition of denouncing abuses by the security forces.

— The Economist, "Latin America’s new media are growing up," 14 July 2018
But the mixed messaging has left America’s friends and allies confused, particularly after a contentious NATO summit where Trump questioned the value of the alliance that Putin has long denounced and sought to weaken.

— matthew lee, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump wish for warm Putin ties highlights policy disconnect," 14 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'denounce.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of denounce

Middle English, from Anglo-French denuncier to proclaim, from Latin denuntiare, from de- + nuntiare to report — more at announce

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

denounce Synonyms

Phrases

come down hard (on), find fault (with), take to task;

Synonym Discussion of denounce

criticize, reprehend, censure, reprobate, condemn, denounce mean to find fault with openly. criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions.

- criticized the police for using violence

reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking.

- reprehends the self-centeredness of today's students

censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and of reprimanding.

- a Senator formally censured by his peers

reprobate implies strong disapproval or firm refusal to sanction.

- reprobated his son's unconventional lifestyle

condemn usually suggests an unqualified and final unfavorable judgment.

- condemned the government's racial policies

denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration.

- a pastoral letter denouncing abortion

DENOUNCE Defined for English Language Learners

denounce

verb

Definition of denounce for English Language Learners

: to publicly state that someone or something is bad or wrong : to criticize (someone or something) harshly and publicly
: to report (someone) to the police or other authorities for illegal or immoral acts