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 Political conservatives in the U.S. have promulgated conspiracy theories, unsupported by scientific evidence, that the shots and their relatively new technology are dangerous. Kff Health News, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2025 Both were targets of multiple executive orders promulgated over his first month. Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025 Short seller Andrew Left, who was targeted by Biden's Securities and Exchange Commission, has jumped on the change of administration to file a formal petition with the agency, asking it to promulgate clear new rules that would effectively allow everything he's been charged with doing. Felix Salmon, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025 Agencies can, and do, promulgate regulations, which have the force of law. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for promulgate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for promulgate
Verb
  • In May 2024, Combs was seen striking and dragging Ventura in a 2016 surveillance video first published by CNN.
    Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
  • Hailing from the Mountain State, he has been published in newspapers and magazines throughout West Virginia, as well as in Virginia.
    Chris Slater, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • The Vatican has not announced a date that the tourist attractions will reopen, as there is no fixed time limit for the election, which is officially known as a conclave.
    Tessa Solomon for ARTnews, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Barbra Streisand has announced The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume 2, an all-star duets album featuring Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, and more.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • On May 8, 1914, Congress passed a law declaring the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day and the next day President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the official holiday, proclaiming it also as a holiday to honor mothers whose sons had died in war.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 2 May 2025
  • Dolly’s announcement proclaimed on the show’s website.
    Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump declared members of crime gangs Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations and invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport them more swiftly.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • There's no sign of the outbreak slowing, and the nation's overall case count is on track to be the highest since the mid-1990s, before measles was declared eliminated in 2000.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Bundling, or combining policies from the same provider, can result in big discounts: State Farm, Geico, Erie and Allstate all advertise rate reductions of up to 25% for enrolling in both home and car insurance.
    Dan Avery, CNBC, 9 May 2025
  • Plants advertise their nectar and pollen with a sweet, enticing odor.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 8 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Promulgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/promulgate. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

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