PROCLAIM Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of proclaim are announce , declare , and promulgate . While all these words mean "to make known publicly," proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively. // the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

Q: When could 'announce' be used to replace 'proclaim'?

The words announce and proclaim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time. // announced their engagement at a party

Q: When might 'declare' be a better fit than 'proclaim'?

Although the words declare and proclaim have much in common, declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known. // the referee declared the contest a draw

Q: In what contexts can 'promulgate' take the place of 'proclaim'?

The words promulgate and proclaim can be used in similar contexts, but promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law. // promulgated an edict of religious toleration

proclaim

verb

prō-ˈklām

Definition of proclaim next

as in to announce

to make known openly or publicly loudly proclaimed her innocence, to widespread disbelief

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb proclaim differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of proclaim are announce, declare, and promulgate. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

When could announce be used to replace proclaim?

The words announce and proclaim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

When might declare be a better fit than proclaim?

Although the words declare and proclaim have much in common, declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.

the referee declared the contest a draw

In what contexts can promulgate take the place of proclaim?

The words promulgate and proclaim can be used in similar contexts, but promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

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 proclaim Mayor Johnson joined a celebration at Reggie's Rock Club on the South Side to officially proclaim June 25 as Horace Grant Day. —

Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 26 June 2026 Bauer-Kahan and Assemblymember Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, are teaming up on a bill that would proclaim June 23, 2026, as Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day. —

Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026 The marks of two canoes showed in the sand, and footprints of barefoot children proclaimed we’d been visited by Cree neighbors. —

Marc Terziev, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2026 News broke the day prior that Nancy was proclaimed dead in the second note sent to the Guthrie family earlier this year. —

Zack Sharf, Variety, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for proclaim

Recent Examples of Synonyms for proclaim

Verb

Iran also announced the complete closure of airspace over Tehran on Monday.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Famous friends of the bride and groom have been spotted across New York City headed to the couple's big day, reportedly in Madison Square Garden July 3, almost a year after the pop star and Super Bowl champion announced their romantic engagement.

— Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Definition of announce

Verb

Staghorn coral are in peril and were declared functionally extinct in Florida in 2025 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch.

— Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
But it was finally declared victorious after yearslong court battles.

— Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2026

Definition of declare

Verb

The agency recently published a draft of a new plan to address the safety of train crossings in Missouri.

— The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026
Afterpay data published last year in Fortune found that more than half of Gen Z consumers report an aversion to credit cards, with 63% switching to alternative payment methods as a result — making BNPL the de facto checkout tool for the generation Amazon most wants to own.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 June 2026