denounce

[ dih-nouns ]

verb (used with object)

, de·nounced, de·nounc·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• deˈnouncer, noun
• deˈnouncement, noun

Other Words From

• de·nouncement noun
• de·nouncer noun
• unde·nounced 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

The humanitarian group denounced the violence in a strongly worded statement last week, saying their personnel had been tear-gassed and held against their will for several hours.

From BBC

After Trump’s announcement Tuesday, many public health experts took to social media to denounce Oz.

From Los Angeles Times

A member of Trump’s first administration who publicly denounced him is applying for foreign citizenship and weighing whether to watch and wait or leave the country before the Jan. 20 inauguration.

From Salon

This spring, as his trial neared, they denounced him as “a serial tax cheat who has built his staffing empire around the chronic failure of his companies to pay applicable federal payroll taxes.”

From New York Times

Critics of Kennedy, commonly known by his initials RFK Jr, include many public health officials, who have denounced his record of spreading health information that scientists say is false.

From BBC

Related Words

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