Synonym Chooser

How does the verb divulge differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of divulge are betray, disclose, reveal, and tell. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

When might betray be a better fit than divulge?

While in some cases nearly identical to divulge, betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

Where would disclose be a reasonable alternative to divulge?

Although the words disclose and divulge have much in common, disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When is reveal a more appropriate choice than divulge?

In some situations, the words reveal and divulge are roughly equivalent. However, reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

In what contexts can tell take the place of divulge?

The synonyms tell and divulge are sometimes interchangeable, but tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

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 divulge The initial story in The Atlantic had only described the operational part of the message chain, but did not divulge specifics. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025 Schumer, 43, divulged her success with a new weight-loss medication before asking about the use of surnames within the royal family. Tracy Wright, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2025 When information is a premium and even seen as a currency of its own, AI models can be designed to delve more deeply into users divulging vast amounts of personal information. Zak Doffman, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 As a private company, Musk is not required to divulge as much about X's business and products as Twitter needed to when it was publicly traded. Axios, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for divulge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divulge
Verb
  • Helion advised Brock Media on the deal whose terms were not disclosed by Studiocanal.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The outcomes of the admissions process must also be disclosed to the government, so observers can track whether students with certain academic records were accepted or not.
    Anna Esaki-Smith, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Further, staggered flashbacks reveal Corry’s lifelong anxiety over abandonment, stemming from the death of her mother in childbirth; the personal resonance of her mission at work to heal young families facing death and disease becomes poignantly clear.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Aug. 2025
  • His Monday meeting in the Oval Office with Zelensky will likely reveal an evolution in their relationship, and Trump’s view of Putin, since their ghastly February blowout.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • There ended up being a fire in the shop, and police discovered the victims (again, content warning for a violent crime), naked, tied up, burned, shot in the head with at least one of them having been raped.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Phony, which Hulu ordered as a pilot in October 2024, centers on Sonny (Nivola), a high school student who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident and discovers his mom, Ellen (Britton), has seemingly been replaced by an impostor.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Kristine’s lawyer, Evan Oshan, told the outlet that the plane’s descent was likely the height equivalent of almost two Empire State Buildings (the building is 1,454 feet tall).
    Charna Flam, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Christophe Magny, head of the Aude region fire brigade, told BFMTV that extreme weather conditions combining low humidity (25%), wind at more than 30km/h and temperatures around 35 degree celsius, created ideal conditions for the fire to spread.
    Pierre Barin, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Divulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divulge. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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