denounce

[dih-nouns]

verb (used with object)

denounced, denouncing 

1. to condemn or censure openly or publicly.

   to denounce a politician as morally corrupt.

   Synonyms: brand, blame, stigmatize, attack
   Antonyms: commend, praise

2. to make a formal accusation against, as to the police or in a court.

3. to give formal notice of the termination or denial of (a treaty, pact, agreement, or the like).

4. Archaic.,  to announce or proclaim, especially as something evil or calamitous.

5. Obsolete.,  to portend.

denounce

/ dɪˈnaʊns /

verb

1. to deplore or condemn openly or vehemently

2. to give information against; accuse

3. to announce formally the termination of (a treaty, etc)

4. obsolete

   1. to announce (something evil)

   2. to portend

Other Word Forms

• denouncement noun
• denouncer noun
• undenounced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of denounce¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English denouncen, from Old French denoncier “to speak out,” from Latin dēnuntiāre “to threaten,” literally, “to announce from,” from dē- de- + nuntiāre “to announce” (derivative of nuntius “messenger”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of denounce¹

C13: from Old French denoncier to proclaim, from Latin dēnuntiāre to make an official proclamation, threaten, from _de- + nuntiāre to announce

Example Sentences

More critics online quickly denounced the post as “vile” and “dehumanizing”.

Read more on Salon

Rights activists and former detainees have denounced such centres for abuse, torture and other crimes.

Read more on Barron's

George Freeman said he remained "the Conservative MP for Mid Norfolk and have no intention of joining Reform or any other party", denouncing the video circulating on social media as "an AI-generated deepfake".

Read more on BBC

Democrats denounced the move, including the state's top Democrat Gene Wu, who argued: "Sending armed soldiers to suppress peaceful protests is what kings and dictators do — and Greg Abbott just proved he's one of them."

Read more on BBC

The use of nitrogen gas as a method of capital punishment has been denounced by United Nations experts as cruel and inhumane.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• accuse 
• blame 
• boycott 
• brand 
• castigate 
• censure 
• criticize 
• decry 
• excoriate 
• prosecute 
• rebuke 
• revile 
• scold 
• threaten 
• vilify