declare

Definition of declarenext
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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 Others have been declared saintly for their devotion to the sick and poor. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026 Health officials believe the first case was weeks before the WHO stepped in and declared a public health emergency. Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026 The African countries, the DRC and Uganda, have been hit by a growing Ebola outbreak, which the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. Pien Huang, NPR, 23 May 2026 The World Health Organization on May 17 declared a public health emergency of international concern for the epidemic, which originated in Congo. Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for declare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declare
Verb
  • Illinois will receive $295 million to address lead in drinking water as part of a $921 million regional investment, the federal government has announced.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
  • Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced the decision Saturday in a statement released by the federation’s media relations office.
    Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • Team Johnson has insisted that Chicago should be — and in their minds still is — the first option.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
  • Even Manny has to hand it to him, but Hartman proves he's matured and insists that saving the day was a team effort.
    Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
Verb
  • Determined to assert their own vision of justice, Pontiac and others painted themselves for war, picked up their stockpiled arms, and attacked British forts, just two weeks after this hanging.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
  • Many companies will assert a great work-life balance.
    Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Verb
  • The crew were revealed at a press conference at Jiuquan on Saturday (May 23).
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 24 May 2026
  • Kara May of Kent, England, revealed that the incident occurred while her family was on a camping vacation in June 2024, per Kennedy News and Media.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • On Sunday, a new sign proclaiming Enrique Martinez Avenue was unveiled on Komensky Avenue just south of 63rd Street, in the neighborhood where Officer Martinez grew up.
    Acacia Hernandez, CBS News, 24 May 2026
  • OpenAI’s o1 model, the coverage incorrectly proclaimed, outperformed the reasoning of emergency physicians to diagnose triage complaints.
    Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • It’s also claimed that the primary focus will remain on climate-compatible propulsion systems, autonomous technologies and applications for security and defense.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 May 2026
  • But Ukraine claims that a new generation of interceptors is blunting the impact of Russian attacks on its cities.
    Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Verb
  • Carolla then turned more serious, professing his lifelong love of the medium.
    City News Service, Daily News, 28 May 2026
  • That’s when Crowley professed his own love for the angel and asked him to leave Heaven and Hell behind, too.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • This content can only be displayed if JavaScript is enabled.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 26 May 2026
  • The format of the exhibition, with objects displayed inside shipping crates, is inspired by the golden age of transatlantic travel.
    Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 26 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Declare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declare. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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