Synonym Chooser

How does the verb promulgate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of promulgate are announce, declare, and proclaim. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

When is it sensible to use announce instead of promulgate?

In some situations, the words announce and promulgate are roughly equivalent. However, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

In what contexts can declare take the place of promulgate?

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

the referee declared the contest a draw

When can proclaim be used instead of promulgate?

The meanings of proclaim and promulgate largely overlap; however, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

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 promulgate Political conservatives in the U.S. have promulgated conspiracy theories, unsupported by scientific evidence, that the shots and their relatively new technology are dangerous. Kff Health News, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2025 Both were targets of multiple executive orders promulgated over his first month. Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025 Short seller Andrew Left, who was targeted by Biden's Securities and Exchange Commission, has jumped on the change of administration to file a formal petition with the agency, asking it to promulgate clear new rules that would effectively allow everything he's been charged with doing. Felix Salmon, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025 Agencies can, and do, promulgate regulations, which have the force of law. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for promulgate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for promulgate
Verb
  • Video published by the Poughkeepsie Fire Department shows a family, identified by ABC News as Lisa Davis and her two grandchildren, walking down Academy Street in the upstate New York town just after 1:30 p.m. ET on April 19.
    James Powel, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Emmy-winning historical drama will officially return for Season 2, FX announced on Wednesday, with physical production scheduled to begin in January in Vancouver.
    Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Wild garlic, a cousin of chives that grows from March to May, is in full bloom, officially announcing the height of spring.
    Christina Pérez, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • There are a couple of reasons why proclaiming the Good News from the Department of State’s website isn’t such good news.
    Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Cena proclaimed to a crowd at the March 24 episode of WWE Raw.
    Obed Manuel, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trump declared members of crime gangs Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations and invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport them more swiftly.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • There's no sign of the outbreak slowing, and the nation's overall case count is on track to be the highest since the mid-1990s, before measles was declared eliminated in 2000.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The commodity was found to be defective, perhaps falsely advertised, but not eligible for return.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • WrestleMania Sunday also advertised Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky in a Triple Threat for the Women’s World Championship, a Fatal 4-Way for the WWE Intercontinental Championship and Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Promulgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/promulgate. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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