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 Passkeys can’t be divulged in phone calls or text messages sent by attackers masquerading as trusted IT personnel. Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025 In a feature from Entertainment Weekly, Gunn divulged a small, yet not-so-subtle hint about Harley Quinn making a return. James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025 One TikToker divulged her experience of falling in love with her psychiatrist and the aftermath, and the internet has strong thoughts about it. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 12 Aug. 2025 Not all of these details are divulged in the lyrics. Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for divulge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divulge
Verb
  • Some of the victims were foreign nationals, though authorities have not disclosed specifics regarding their identities or nationalities.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The terms of the decade-long deal, which kick off with the 2025 Italian Grand Prix in Monza running Friday to Sunday, were not disclosed.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But a butt dial revealed the truth about what actually happened, the complaint alleges.
    KC Baker, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Alongside this, large-scale genetic studies have revealed sweeping changes in the human brain that are not seen in other mammals.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As The Athletic discovered on a recent stroll along the waterfront from the city centre, there’s certainly plenty of land ripe for development.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • For the uninitiated, the Hall effect, first discovered in 1879 by Edwin Hall, is a phenomenon where an electric current flowing through a conductor or semiconductor in the presence of a magnetic field produces a voltage across the material.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The cause of the accident was not immediately known, although the car appeared to have derailed, which a source from the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment told local media may have been caused by a loose cable leading to brake failure.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Figma added four new AI-native tools to its platform this quarter and told investors on the call to expect significant investments in AI going forward.
    Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Divulge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divulge. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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