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 Chapell relented, turning over his phone and divulging his passcode. Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025 DiZoglio even asked Attorney General Andrea Campbell last December to greenlight a lawsuit to force the House and Senate to comply with the effort to open up their finances and divulge details on internal proceedings, according to a letter obtained by the Herald. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 Terms of the deal have not been divulged. Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 Haltom divulged the casket’s backstory in the post, hoping its authenticity might entice a lover of all things macabre. Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for divulge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divulge
Verb
  • While not all spending or financial sources have been disclosed publicly, Democrats easily outspent a Republican campaign by as much as four-to-one.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Kelly did not disclose what structural engineering issues the building had, but said that the company's structural engineering firm informed Amazon of its error in a statement without elaborating.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • That line—now the opening line of the novel—revealed that this time travel story would be about how to begin again.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Advanced spectroscopy and simulations revealed why.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Authorities then discovered De Silva suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Bishop discovered that former Rangers defender Connor Goldson, now playing in Cyprus, had a similar problem earlier in his career.
    Tom Burrows, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The judge also noted she had not previously been told a mechanic had worked on the car, and also the government has given at least two different accounts of who approved the car’s removal to Maine.
    Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • While many people might rush to see a doctor after such a discovery, Farrington put it off, telling herself that the lump would disappear naturally.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Divulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divulge. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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