denounce

de·nounce | \ di-ˈnau̇n(t)s

, dē- \

denounced; denouncing

Definition of denounce

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 sense intransitive 1) 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

Other Words from denounce Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about denounce

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web On a Tuesday, five days before the brackets were to be unveiled for the men’s N.C.A.A. basketball tournament, the Ivy League canceled its conference tournament and was denounced as a bunch of reactionary killjoys. — Billy Witz, New York Times, "Classes Canceled at Cal State Colleges, but Football May Not Follow," 13 May 2020 Both candidates expressed concerns about the group and have denounced outside interference in the race. — Evan Casey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Dennis McBride will be Wauwatosa's next mayor," 13 Apr. 2020 The city is expected to rescind the order Friday after residents and business owners denounced it as unsafe and impractical. — Andrea Perez Balderrama, Detroit Free Press, "Hamtramck backs off after ordering grocers to cover produce in plastic amid pandemic," 28 Mar. 2020 The rudimentary conditions faced by some 2,000 asylum-seekers camped out here along the Rio Grande have long been denounced as an appalling tableau, just 100 yards from the border with Brownsville, Texas. — Los Angeles Times, "Aid workers seek to avoid coronavirus outbreak at Matamoros migrant camp," 5 Apr. 2020 Another response by the Chinese government has been to denounce the exile community through propaganda. — Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, "One American Uyghur’s vow: ‘I should’ve gone public a long time ago.’," 1 Apr. 2020 But the measures have been denounced by advocates as yet another barrier for asylum-seekers hoping to request protection in the U.S. — Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, "Citing coronavirus, the U.S. is swiftly deporting unaccompanied migrant children," 30 Mar. 2020 His efforts to curb the use of food stamps, his administration’s attempts to dismantle provisions of the Affordable Care Act and his restrictive immigration policies have all been denounced as harmful to blacks and Latinos. — Michael D. Shear, New York Times, "Trump Takes On Bloomberg and Once Again Hijacks a News Cycle," 11 Feb. 2020 Israel has been denounced time and again at the United Nations for breaking international law. — Andrew Carey, CNN, "Trump's plan gives Israel a green light to annex part of the West Bank. Here's what that looks like," 29 Jan. 2020

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.