denunciatory
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- denunciatively adverb
- nondenunciative adjective
- nondenunciatory adjective
- undenunciatory adjective
Etymology
Origin of denunciatory
First recorded in 1720–30; denunciate + -ory 1
Explanation
Like to play the blame game? Try the adjective denunciatory! Anything denunciatory reproaches someone or threatens to punish them. If you blame the mayor for your town’s woes, write a denunciatory editorial for the local paper. This adjective comes from the verb denounce, "to declare to be wrong or evil," which originally simply meant "announce." The Latin root is denuntiare, "announce or proclaim." Denunciatory comments are often public — you point out bad stuff someone has done so other people will know and punish them for it. It’s not just for people – a denunciatory speech about plastic bags might make people stop using them, or at least it would make them aware of the downside.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Department for Work and Pensions has consulted with charities, but even before the Green Paper has seen the light of day some of those organisations have been firing off denunciatory press releases.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2025
“Nazi and Gestapo documents often have a denunciatory character and often reflect conflicts over power and influence within Nazi institutions,” the statement said.
From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2019
You issued a denunciatory manifesto that contained about as many words as the Declaration of Independence, and with many more “whereases” and “be-it-resolveds.”
From Washington Post • Mar. 29, 2016
European newspapers published denunciatory editorials by writers who had never set foot on any mountain, let alone the Matterhorn.
From National Geographic • Jul. 14, 2015
From Rome came the denunciatory bull of 1569, renewed with an artful modification in 1580, and again in 1588; and from Spain the Armada.
From Amenities of Literature Consisting of Sketches and Characters of English Literature by Disraeli, Isaac
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
