Term: denounce
denounce (verb): to publicly declare something to be wrong or evil; to strongly criticize someone or something in a formal way. It can also mean to inform authorities about someone’s illegal or immoral activities.
synonyms: condemn, criticize, censure, vilify, expose.
pronunciation: /dɪˈnaʊns/
translation: nosodīt, atmaskot or uzrādīt
example: The government was quick to denounce the terrorist attack, calling it a “cowardly act against innocent civilians.”
other words from this root: denunciation (noun), denouncer (noun).
Contextual Usage
- Political/Public: “The United Nations voted to denounce the invasion of the sovereign territory.”
- Moral/Ethical: “The whistleblower chose to denounce the company’s corrupt practices to the press.”
- Legal/Historical: In some historical contexts, it means to formally end a treaty or agreement.
Denounce vs. Criticize
While they both involve saying something is bad, denounce is much more powerful:
- Criticize: Can be mild or constructive (e.g., “I criticize your grammar”).
- Denounce: Is usually a total rejection based on moral or legal grounds (e.g., “I denounce your hateful ideology”).
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
denounce (verb)transitive verb
1.
to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil - they denounced him as a bigot
2.
archaic
a) - proclaim
b) to announce threateningly
3.
to inform against - accuse
4.
obsolete - portend
5.
to announce formally the termination of (as a treaty) criticize
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
denounce (verb)1.
to declare to be morally wrong or evil
SYNONYMS:
anathematize, censure, damn, decry, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobateRELATED WORDS:
attack, blame, blast, criticize, dis ( diss) [], dispraise, fault, knock, pan, slam; belittle, deprecate, disparage; doom, sentence; convict; blacklist, excommunicate, ostracize; castigate, chastise, rebuke, reprimand, reproach; admonish, chide, reprove; berate, lambaste ( lambast), rake, scold, upbraid, vituperate; curse, imprecate; abhor, abominate, detest, hate, loathe, revileNEAR ANTONYMS:
approve, endorse ( indorse), sanction; eulogize, exalt, extol ( extoll), glorify, laud, praise; acclaim, applaud, commend, hail, salute, tout; consecrate, hallow, sanctify; honor, revere, venerate2.
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of
SYNONYMS:
blame, censure, condemn, denounce, dis ( diss), dispraise, fault, knock, pan, reprehend, slagRELATED WORDS:
skewer, tweak; assail, attack, blast, clobber, slam, slash; nick (at), snipe (at); beef, bellyache, bitch, carp, cavil, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, niggle, quibble, whine; admonish, chide, drub, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove; berate, castigate, crucify, excoriate, flay, gibbet, hammer, keelhaul, lambaste ( lambast), lash, pillory, scold, upbraid; bad-mouth, belittle, decry, deride, discommend, disparage, put downNEAR ANTONYMS:
approve, commend, endorse ( indorse), recommend, sanction3.
to express public or formal disapproval of
SYNONYMS:
condemn, denounce, objurgate, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reproveRELATED WORDS:
admonish, chastise; castigate, punish; bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up, dress down, flay, gibbet, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste ( lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at against), rate, scold, score, tell off, upbraid; belittle, criticize, deprecate, depreciate, disparageNEAR ANTONYMS:
acclaim, applause, hail, honor; eulogize, laud, praise; approve, bless, sanction