declare

Definition of declarenext
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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 Russia declared a unilateral ceasefire for Friday and Saturday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a truce that was supposed to begin on May 6, but neither of them held as the parties traded blame for continuing attacks. ABC News, 9 May 2026 Earlier, Russia and Ukraine had accused each other of violating ceasefires that each had separately declared. Guy Faulconbridge, USA Today, 9 May 2026 The April 17 ceasefire was declared in Washington during those talks. Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026 On Tuesday, the Kern County Board of Supervisors is expected to declare a similar local emergency. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for declare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declare
Verb
  • Diamondback Energy Independent oil and natural gas company Diamondback Energy announced solid first-quarter results on May 4 and raised its full-year production guidance.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 10 May 2026
  • The specific location, date and time will be announced by CIF-SS on Monday.
    Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Success at tests like puzzles and mazes, which appeared to Washburn to be the result of reasoning, or insight—observation and detection—Thorndike insisted was instead merely the result of blundering, repetition, and trial and error.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • In an age where most people view art not with their eyes, but through the lens of technology, Abramović banned the use of phones in her show, insisting that people be fully present in the work.
    Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Silvia and Guojun were now attempting to assert custody rights over the infant there, along with the newborns whom surrogates had recently birthed in Georgia and Virginia.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
  • As Sportico explained, class counsel Steve Berman and Jeffrey Kessler assert multimedia rights companies including Learfield, Playfly Sports and JMI Sports—and third-party brand sponsors including banks, apparel companies, airlines and car dealerships—aren’t associated entities.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • The necropsies also revealed pneumonia and infections from a broad array of pathogens.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
  • Strout indicates that their potential will be fulfilled in short, jump-ahead passages — one of the passages reveals that Artie inspires an awkward girl named Rhonda to help other people by becoming a minister.
    Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Again, the show is insistent on proclaiming Val’s greatness without putting in the work.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 May 2026
  • The ruling, upheld by the state Supreme Court, prompted the mayor, who proclaimed at the time that failure was not an option, to pursue other options to make the project’s tall buildings possible.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • The defendant also claimed the trial court abused its discretion by allowing the state’s expert witness, W, to answer two hypothetical questions posed by the prosecutor.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
  • Magyar recently claimed that several of Orbán’s top lieutenants are rushing to send their assets abroad, perhaps to avoid financial or legal sanctions, and that others have been shredding incriminating documents.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • That’s when Crowley professed his own love for the angel and asked him to leave Heaven and Hell behind, too.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
  • Some ministers, like Pat McFadden, emerged from the crucial Cabinet meeting Tuesday to profess their support for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • There are other variables, too, like the inclusion of summer 2025 signing Florian Wirtz and how his arrival has altered the team’s balance, and how opponents have figured out how to nullify the threat of Ryan Gravenberch after his standout displays in the 2024-25 title-winning season.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Perry, dressed in a white robe, emotionally reacts to Groban's engagement in the video, which is displayed in the background with a news article screenshot.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Declare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declare. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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