DECLARE Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'declare' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of declare are announce , proclaim , and promulgate . While all these words mean "to make known publicly," declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known. // the referee declared the contest a draw

Q: Where would 'announce' be a reasonable alternative to 'declare'?

The meanings of announce and declare largely overlap; however, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time. // announced their engagement at a party

Q: When might 'proclaim' be a better fit than 'declare'?

While the synonyms proclaim and declare are close in meaning, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively. // the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

Q: In what contexts can 'promulgate' take the place of 'declare'?

The words promulgate and declare can be used in similar contexts, but promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law. // promulgated an edict of religious toleration

declare

verb

di-ˈkler

Definition of declare next

as in to announce

to make known openly or publicly she chose to declare her presidential aspirations at her college alma mater

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as in to insist

to state as a fact usually forcefully she would declare her innocence to the whole world if she could

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as in to assert

to state clearly and strongly our guest enthusiastically declared that the pie was the best he had ever eaten

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as in to reveal

to make known (something abstract) through outward signs though she was silent, her expression declared her unwillingness to go along with the others

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb declare differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of declare are announce, proclaim, and promulgate. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.

the referee declared the contest a draw

Where would announce be a reasonable alternative to declare?

The meanings of announce and declare largely overlap; however, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

When might proclaim be a better fit than declare?

While the synonyms proclaim and declare are close in meaning, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

In what contexts can promulgate take the place of declare?

The words promulgate and declare can be used in similar contexts, but promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

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 declare Federal courts declared the Kansas law an unconstitutional burden on voting rights, and it hasn’t been enforced since 2018. —

ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026 On Saturday morning, Stitt declared a state of emergency for eight counties due to severe weather, tornadoes and flooding. —

Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026 Kuwait Petroleum declared force majeure — a legal clause allowing a company not to fulfill contractual obligations because of circumstances outside its control — on sales of oil and refinery products, according to a notice seen by Bloomberg. —

Fiona MacDonald, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026 Trump can avoid it by declaring victory soon. —

Jason Willick, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for declare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for declare

Verb

On April 1 — April Whew’s Day for the Aztecs — Gwath announced his return after the MESA Foundation put together a more competitive agreement that, of course, was still well short of what the blue bloods could offer.

— Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The exact cause of the crash has not been publicly announced, but likely the result of mechanical failure, a midair refueling accident, or a fuel system malfunction.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026

Definition of announce

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declarations

declare

declared

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“Declare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declare. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

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Last Updated: 15 Mar 2026 - Updated example sentences

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