denounce

American  

[dih-nouns] / dɪˈnaʊns /

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.

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denounce British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• denouncement noun
• denouncer noun
• undenounced adjective

Etymology

Origin of denounce

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”)

Example Sentences

Beutner, who entered the contest in October, spent much of his campaign denouncing Bass’ handling of the Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead.

From Los Angeles Times

From exile, she has denounced the ban on her party.

From BBC

He has denounced the "inhuman" treatment of migrants, urged dialogue in Venezuela and lamented a "diplomacy of force".

From Barron's

And artists used their acceptance speeches and platforms to denounce immigration raids.

From Los Angeles Times

He, his employer and the US authorities denounced the case as a sham.

From BBC

Related Words

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