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 But the race was shook up last month when progressive politician Kim declared her candidacy. Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026 New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency effective Sunday at noon as the state braces for up to 20 inches of snowfall. Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026 His music declared identity, pride, resistance, and joy. Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2026 On one level, the environment declares that the play is set in a realistic looking, nearly empty, moodily lit diner. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for declare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declare
Verb
  • The bodies of all nine people who died in Tuesday’s avalanche in the Lake Tahoe area have been safely recovered from the slide area near Castle Peak in Nevada County, local authorities announced Saturday.
    Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Two weeks later, Homan announced the federal law enforcement presence in Minnesota would be scaled back.
    Nick Woltman, Twin Cities, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Uludag denied the accusations during questioning, insisting that his posts were legitimate criticism made in his capacity as a judiciary reporter, according to court documents published by Cumhuriyet newspaper.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
  • The French insisted that their routine had a high level of difficulty and that they had been rewarded justly.
    Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Daily News has a duty to verify facts asserted in op-eds.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
  • In a January 16 court filing supporting criminal charges against the two men, the DOJ asserted Aljorna was the one driving the vehicle.
    Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Weapon system autonomously detects and classifies moving targets The company revealed that the weapon system autonomously detects and classifies moving targets in poor visibility situations caused by darkness, bad weather, smoke or dust kicked up by helicopters.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Keeping top athletes engaged Such a small country can’t afford to lose athletes whose talent might not be fully revealed until their later teens.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Brian Wilson was back, as the promotional campaign around 15 Big Ones excitedly proclaimed, and that meant the rockin’ good times were here to stay.
    Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The fences around the tombstones and the tombstones themselves were all of a piece, yet each one also proclaimed its difference from the other.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Then her schoolmates were right in tune in the pool to claim their first championship.
    Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Milford captured its second straight boys championship and fourth in the past five seasons, while Putnam claimed its first state title in program history, sealing the upset of two‑time defending champion Agawam with a dramatic pinfall in the final match of the day.
    Brian Fabry, Boston Herald, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In recent years, LaBeouf has professed to be sober.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Fishback later winkingly professed ignorance about the word.
    Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • These boats have the vertical launch system (VLS), which could be used to fire new high-speed anti-ship missiles displayed at China’s Victory Day parade in Beijing last fall.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The report states that Jackson -- who is listed as a DoorDash driver in the report -- was identified as the driver and only occupant of a car involved in a road rage incident on Interstate 630 in which a gun was displayed and pointed at the driver of another vehicle.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 17 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Declare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declare. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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