Definition of DIVULGE

Choose the Right Synonym for divulge

reveal, disclose, divulge, tell, betray mean to make known what has been or should be concealed. reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason. divine will as revealed in sacred writings disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret. candidates must disclose their financial assets divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence. refused to divulge an anonymous source tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information. told them what he had overheard betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure. a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

Did You Know?

It isn't vulgar to make known the roots of divulge - and that sentence contains two hints about the word's origin. "Divulge" was borrowed into Middle English in the 15th century from Latin divulgare, a word that combines the prefix dis-, which meant "apart" or "in different directions" in Latin, with vulgare, meaning "to make known." "Vulgare," in turn, derives from the Latin noun vulgus, meaning "mob" or "common people. As you have no doubt guessed, English "vulgar" is another word which can be traced back to "vulgus"; it came into use about a century before "divulge."

Examples of divulge in a Sentence

The company will not divulge its sales figures. we tried to make him divulge the name of the winner, but he wouldn't budge

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Last Updated

20 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Divulge.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divulge?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=d&file=divulg01. Accessed 26 January 2020.