DENOUNCE Synonyms: 139 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of denounce are censure , condemn , criticize , reprehend , and reprobate . While all these words mean "to find fault with openly," denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration. // a pastoral letter denouncing abortion

Q: When would 'censure' be a good substitute for 'denounce'?

While the synonyms censure and denounce are close in meaning, censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and of reprimanding. // a Senator formally censured by his peers

Q: When can 'condemn' be used instead of 'denounce'?

While in some cases nearly identical to denounce , condemn usually suggests an unqualified and final unfavorable judgment. // condemned the government's racial policies

Q: Where would 'criticize' be a reasonable alternative to 'denounce'?

In some situations, the words criticize and denounce are roughly equivalent. However, criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions. // criticized the police for using violence

Q: When is 'reprehend' a more appropriate choice than 'denounce'?

Although the words reprehend and denounce have much in common, reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking. // reprehends the self-centeredness of today's students

Q: When might 'reprobate' be a better fit than 'denounce'?

The meanings of reprobate and denounce largely overlap; however, reprobate implies strong disapproval or firm refusal to sanction. // reprobated his son's unconventional lifestyle

denounce

verb

di-ˈnau̇n(t)s

Definition of denounce

as in to condemn

to declare to be morally wrong or evil the church council denounced the bishop's teachings, officially declaring them to be heresy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to criticize

to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of denounced the shoddy merchandise that the local shops were foisting on tourists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to censure

to express public or formal disapproval of the governor has denounced the court's decision and vows to press for a constitutional amendment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb denounce differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of denounce are censure, condemn, criticize, reprehend, and reprobate. While all these words mean "to find fault with openly," denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration.

a pastoral letter denouncing abortion

When would censure be a good substitute for denounce?

While the synonyms censure and denounce are close in meaning, censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and of reprimanding.

a Senator formally censured by his peers

When can condemn be used instead of denounce?

While in some cases nearly identical to denounce, condemn usually suggests an unqualified and final unfavorable judgment.

condemned the government's racial policies

Where would criticize be a reasonable alternative to denounce?

In some situations, the words criticize and denounce are roughly equivalent. However, criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions.

criticized the police for using violence

When is reprehend a more appropriate choice than denounce?

Although the words reprehend and denounce have much in common, reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking.

reprehends the self-centeredness of today's students

When might reprobate be a better fit than denounce?

The meanings of reprobate and denounce largely overlap; however, reprobate implies strong disapproval or firm refusal to sanction.

reprobated his son's unconventional lifestyle

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 denounce While on the final stages of awards campaign trail, Panahi publicly denounced a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests which swept Iran in January 2026 in which tens of thousands are believe to have died. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026 Israel has become increasingly isolated, condemned in international forums, denounced in the streets of European capitals, and regarded by many critics as a pariah state. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026 In January, at a conference of the National Association of Secretaries of State, Henderson denounced Dhillon’s contention that states needed federal help to clean up their rolls. — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026 The claims by Republicans have been denounced by Democrats as attacks on El-Sayed's faith and his Egyptian heritage. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for denounce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for denounce

Verb

One of Iran’s most politically outspoken filmmakers, Panahi has been critical of the country’s leadership and condemned violence against anti-government protesters.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Opposition leaders condemned the prime minister's remarks, maintaining that the elections in Israel were free and fair and there was no evidence of election fraud.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of condemn

Verb

Vance has neither criticized his friend nor publicly nudged Carlson to temper what’s been harsh criticism of Israel — and Trump’s cultivation of the Netanyahu government.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
At an October debate, Bass pointed out that Raman, as chair of the city council’s housing and homelessness committee, had repeatedly approved spending on Inside Safe, the very program Raman now criticizes as expensive and insufficiently accountable.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticize

Verb

That set off the wave of youth protests that blamed the collapse on high-level corruption and cronyism during renovation work at the station.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Anything this pair does for the next several months that is not together will be scrutinized, dissected, interpreted, and ESPN can only blame itself.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of blame

Verb

The judge also faulted Phillips and Chaib for not getting a new attorney months earlier, when the relationship began to deteriorate.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
The system transmitted 28 operating parameters, including load data, component temperatures, operating hours, and fault codes.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of fault

Verb

Mandell was later formally reprimanded for allowing another client’s hearing to be delayed by six years, during which time two witnesses died.

— Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026
The Denver school board censured director Monica Hunter on Thursday night, the third time in five years that the governing body of Colorado’s largest K-12 district has publicly reprimanded a colleague.

— Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of reprimand

Verb

Against the backdrop of legal disputes involving Kiffin, LSU and the SEC, the LSU coach suggested the league office may have viewed the scheduling decision as an opportunity to punish him.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
For gaining independence, it was harshly punished financially.

— Elisa Turner, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of punish

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“Denounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denounce. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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