Synonym Chooser

How does the verb promulgate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of promulgate are announce, declare, and proclaim. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

When is it sensible to use announce instead of promulgate?

In some situations, the words announce and promulgate are roughly equivalent. However, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

In what contexts can declare take the place of promulgate?

Although the words declare and promulgate have much in common, declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.

the referee declared the contest a draw

When can proclaim be used instead of promulgate?

The meanings of proclaim and promulgate largely overlap; however, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of promulgate Education laws, promulgated by Congress to ensure that every child in America has access, equality and opportunity for educational programs and services, must have a structure for oversight and enforcement. Patricia A. Daniel, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2025 Israel's Netanyahu to visit Hungary, defying International Criminal Court arrest warrant Hungary signed the ICC's founding document in 1999 and ratified it in 2001, but the law has not been promulgated. Reuters, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025 That case, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, basically ended the ability of agencies like the EPA to promulgate rules Congress has not specifically authorized. Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2025 Other tariffs are being promulgated within the administration, including those on products like copper, lumber, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for promulgate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for promulgate
Verb
  • Source: The National Weather Service This story was originally published June 21, 2025 at 5:25 AM.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 21 June 2025
  • Source: National Interagency Fire Center This story was originally published June 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • The Beijing municipal government announced an expansion of its consumer subsidy program, adding an extra 5% to the existing 15% subsidy on smart toilets, smart door locks, floor sweepers (including robotics), and garbage disposals.
    Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • More carriage deals will be announced at a later date.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • The holiday marks the date in 1865 – more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation – that Major General Gordon Granger and 2,000 Union Army troops came to Galveston Bay, Texas, to proclaim freedom for more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 June 2025
  • In front of an excited crowd of Venezuelans in Miami in 2019, the president proclaimed that Maduro’s days were numbered.
    Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Following the event, UFC CEO Dana White declared that Tsarukyan would have to wait for a title shot.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • Strickland even publicly declared his support for Trump after a win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June 2024.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Accredited veterans service organizations such as the VFW or the Legion will help vets free of charge, but private companies are advertising and posting online, trying to get vets to pay them for the same service.
    Quil Lawrence, NPR, 26 June 2025
  • Some companies don’t advertise their job openings, so ask around.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Promulgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/promulgate. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

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