DECLARE Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'declare' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of declare are announce , proclaim , and promulgate . While all these words mean "to make known publicly," declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known. // the referee declared the contest a draw

Q: Where would 'announce' be a reasonable alternative to 'declare'?

The meanings of announce and declare largely overlap; however, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time. // announced their engagement at a party

Q: When might 'proclaim' be a better fit than 'declare'?

While the synonyms proclaim and declare are close in meaning, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively. // the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

Q: In what contexts can 'promulgate' take the place of 'declare'?

The words promulgate and declare can be used in similar contexts, but promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law. // promulgated an edict of religious toleration

declare

verb

di-ˈkler

Definition of declare next

as in to announce

to make known openly or publicly she chose to declare her presidential aspirations at her college alma mater

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Relevance

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as in to insist

to state as a fact usually forcefully she would declare her innocence to the whole world if she could

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as in to assert

to state clearly and strongly our guest enthusiastically declared that the pie was the best he had ever eaten

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as in to reveal

to make known (something abstract) through outward signs though she was silent, her expression declared her unwillingness to go along with the others

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb declare differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of declare are announce, proclaim, and promulgate. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.

the referee declared the contest a draw

Where would announce be a reasonable alternative to declare?

The meanings of announce and declare largely overlap; however, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

When might proclaim be a better fit than declare?

While the synonyms proclaim and declare are close in meaning, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

In what contexts can promulgate take the place of declare?

The words promulgate and declare can be used in similar contexts, but promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of declare California, the state hit worst by outbreaks in cattle, declared a state of emergency in December 2024 in response to the outbreaks. —

John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025 Hager declared Johansson the winner of the debate after this revelation. —

Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2025 Trump also declared that the federal government only recognizes two sexes − male and female. —

Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025 Trump also declared that the U.S. would exit the Paris Agreement, through which nations set carbon emissions reduction goals to limit global warming. —

Nidhi Sharma, NBC News, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for declare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for declare

Verb

Georgia wildlife officials announced Thursday that the state has confirmed its first case of Chronic Wasting Disease.

— Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 24 Jan. 2025
All eyes have been on Greenland recently after President Trump announced an interest in possibly purchasing the world’s largest island from Denmark.

— Roger Sands, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025