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

as in to announce

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to insist

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to assert

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Frost came out to confront Shotzi on last week’s episode, appearing to declare herself the top contender for the belt. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026 Mulligan then upped the goal to $3 million on Friday, the same day the judge declared a mistrial after one juror steadfastly refused to align with the other 11. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2026 Last season, a game between UC Davis and Mercer was declared a no contest in the fourth quarter due to torrential rain with no end in sight. — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026 The judge officially declared a mistrial this afternoon after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for declare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for declare

Verb

The companies have not announced a specific project, deployment capacity or commercial timeline.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2026
When the judges announce Jude as the winner, Bi, Anna, and Joseph don’t look surprised, and each gets a small hopeful comment at the end.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of announce

Verb

The ruling insisted the defendants were not being tried because of their political views.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
In 2006, Wales insisted that their national anthem, ‘Land of Our Fathers’, should be the last thing performed before the game in Cardiff began.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of insist

Verb

After going behind early to a Kai Havertz goal, PSG had to remain patient, before gradually asserting their authority in the contest.

— Tom Burrows, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Thus Irving manages to have his cake and eat it too, by insisting on the tale’s authenticity while asserting his own skepticism.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of assert

Verb

Players have revealed their concerns about harassment and death threats reaching a traumatizing level.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Astrophotographer Kevin Boardman captured this spectacular view of the Crescent Nebula, revealing intricate filaments of gas surrounding a massive star nearing the end of its life some 4,700 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of reveal

Verb

In 1765 Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia, began drafting the Nakaz, or constitution, to proclaim her sovereignty and guarantee her subjects liberty and equality.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
With no disrespect to Stafford, who has had a very good career, this is a bit like a former Linkin Park roadie proclaiming that if the band were to come out with another hit album, they’d be considered one of the five best.

— Michael Silver, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of proclaim

Verb

The group claims that HIV treatment has improved in the decades since the military initially categorized HIV as a health problem that disqualifies someone from enlistment.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 15 Sep. 2026
At the same time, the Houthis claimed a successful attack on a Saudi air base, following an attack last week on a Saudi oil pipeline.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of claim

Verb

The exhibit, which professes to illustrate storytelling through art in its earliest manifestations, is a jarring introduction to a museum that houses 1,300 original works.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
The designer, who was hailed as a visionary in the industry throughout the ‘90s and early ‘00s, sparked outrage in 2011 following multiple antisemitic and racist incidents, including professing his love for Hitler at a restaurant in Paris.

— Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of profess

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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 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of declare

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