PROCLAIM Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of proclaim are announce , declare , and promulgate . While all these words mean "to make known publicly," proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively. // the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

Q: When could 'announce' be used to replace 'proclaim'?

The words announce and proclaim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time. // announced their engagement at a party

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

Although the words declare and proclaim have much in common, declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known. // the referee declared the contest a draw

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

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

proclaim

verb

prō-ˈklām

Definition of proclaim next

as in to announce

to make known openly or publicly loudly proclaimed her innocence, to widespread disbelief

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb proclaim differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of proclaim are announce, declare, and promulgate. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

When could announce be used to replace proclaim?

The words announce and proclaim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

When might declare be a better fit than proclaim?

Although the words declare and proclaim have much in common, declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.

the referee declared the contest a draw

In what contexts can promulgate take the place of proclaim?

The words promulgate and proclaim 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 proclaim As his wife Melissa bluntly proclaims to Davenport, her husband was murdered. —

Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025 Trump already signed an executive order proclaiming that all people must be categorized as either men or women, a move that could pave the way to widespread discriminatory practices against transgender and non-binary people. —

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2025 Related Articles Though no retail apocalypse was proclaimed, Coresights foresights cast a glass-half-empty view of the near future for retail square footage. —

David Moin, WWD, 23 Jan. 2025 With the war over, President Harry Truman proclaimed that an underwater area of some 750,000 square miles—about 4.5 Californias—now belonged to America. —

Jack Truesdale, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for proclaim

Recent Examples of Synonyms for proclaim

Verb

The school announced that Faulkner, along with other donors, gave gifts to the Camden Scholars Program.

— Lucas Frau, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
Since Trump has taken office, Musk announced that USAID would shut down.

— Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025