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

Relevance

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 Let the people proclaim who’s the greatest. —

Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 29 Apr. 2026 That’s what Mauigoa proclaimed, immediately after the Giants drafted him, about looking after quarterback Jaxson Dart. —

Sam Warren, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026 Which is to say that its power as a mode of redress in the first sense—as agent for proclaiming and correcting injustices—is being appealed to constantly. —

Nick Laird, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026 In one of the more heated moments, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts hammered this point, saying Trump had publicly proclaimed that interest rates would drop. —

Stacey Vanek Smith, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for proclaim

Recent Examples of Synonyms for proclaim

Verb

Diamondback Energy Independent oil and natural gas company Diamondback Energy announced solid first-quarter results on May 4 and raised its full-year production guidance.

— TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 10 May 2026
The specific location, date and time will be announced by CIF-SS on Monday.

— Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026