Definition of divulgenext

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 Roberts, who generally keeps her personal life private, divulged her unusual living arrangement with Laign in her 2014 memoir, Everybody’s Got Something. Louis Peitzman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 Eric Weslander, The Star’s attorney, urged Phillips to require Independence to divulge the agreement and find the city in violation of the state’s open records law, commonly called the Sunshine Law. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 Trodd wasn’t willing to divulge Four Seasons’ Champagne and caviar budget, but a bit of back-of-the-cocktail napkin math tells me it’s…a lot. Abbey Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 July 2026 The first-year Falcons coach kept the details of Tagovailoa’s injury secret, saying that one of the perks of training camp is not having to divulge every detail. ABC News, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for divulge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divulge
Verb
  • The federal law generally prohibits schools that receive federal education funding from disclosing personally identifiable information from a student's education records without a parent's or guardian's consent, except in limited circumstances.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond that, the exact location of their new home hasn’t been disclosed.
    Max Foster, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • No obvious signs of trauma were found An autopsy performed Monday revealed no signs of trauma that would have contributed to her death, the coroner’s office said.
    Holly Yan, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Finding more examples like GJ 523b could help reveal whether these unusual worlds are rare exceptions or part of a broader population.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Between 60% and 70% of new Ebola cases are being detected among people who were not already being monitored as contacts, meaning health workers may only discover infections after patients become sick and have had opportunities to expose others.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers then discovered that the second population of neurons, called Ddah1+ neurons, responded to stress.
    Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The study of a patient’s urine was an extremely popular practice in the Middle Ages, even though doctors could tell precious little about what was ailing someone just by looking at a sample in a jar.
    T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Backstage, Kenny Omega calls the Don Callis Family bullies and tells them to pick any three members to face him and The Young Bucks, who are standing beside Omega, next week.
    Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Divulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divulge. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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