declare

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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 By comparison, Biden declared 11 national emergencies over his whole four-year term. Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2025 The judges stick to the party line and declare Ginger the winner alongside Daya. Chris Feil, Vulture, 27 June 2025 While many have already declared the death of the American mall, Simon appears to be investing all the more heavily into retail complexes. Cd Goette-Luciak, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025 When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of public emergency in 1975, normally boisterous outdoor meeting spaces, public buses, and pubs suddenly went quiet. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for declare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declare
Verb
  • The montage ended with a shot of England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson; his death was announced the day before Oasis announced their reformation in late August last year.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 29 June 2025
  • As of June 2025, sources told Variety that Netflix currently has no plans to announce a Squid Game spinoff.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Calderon maintained his innocence, insisting his positive result had been the result of cross-contamination.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 20 June 2025
  • In recent years, Iran has refused to engage in direct discussions with U.S. officials about its nuclear program and instead has insisted on indirect talks, with each government relaying messages through intermediaries.
    NBC News, NBC news, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Bayern asserted their dominance over Group C by thrashing Auckland City in their Club World Cup opener 10-0.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
  • America asserted its position, secured a partner through alignment against common rivals, and laid the groundwork for its emergence as a global superpower.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • Instead, recent events in Iran have revealed that anti-Americanism can bind an alliance together only so much.
    Leon Aron, The Atlantic, 29 June 2025
  • The offer doesn’t reveal what the potential costs would be for the roads, sewers, utilities and other amenities.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 29 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
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that the administration acted under the War Powers Act by notifying members of Congress after the strikes.
    Annabella Rosciglione, The Washington Examiner, 22 June 2025
  • The Dreamers also claim their stadium would provide more event space.
    Kelly Martinez Semrad, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Mah Jongg has been featured on morning talk shows, with Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager (of the Today Show) professing their love for the game.
    Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • And days later, the two professed their love to one another.
    Moná Thomas, People.com, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • The Meta logo is displayed during the Viva Technology show at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles on May 22, 2024 in Paris, France.
    Kate Knibbs, Wired News, 25 June 2025
  • The bakery case displays the day’s dessert specials.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Declare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declare. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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