Synonym Chooser

How does the verb promulgate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of promulgate are announce, declare, and proclaim. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

When is it sensible to use announce instead of promulgate?

In some situations, the words announce and promulgate are roughly equivalent. However, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

In what contexts can declare take the place of promulgate?

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

the referee declared the contest a draw

When can proclaim be used instead of promulgate?

The meanings of proclaim and promulgate largely overlap; however, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

Examples 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 promulgate Complex rules get promulgated, but the firms impacted by them are often in the dark (yet liable for any non-compliance). William Dunkelberg, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 In late October, the Biden Administration promulgated a rule that would require insurance companies to pay for over-the-counter contraception. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024 After standing up to the most leftwing legislators in Sacramento in September with vetoes of multiple progressive bills, Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) has followed up with another move seen as sensible by those who typically dislike the laws promulgated by the California Legislature. Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 The details are often adrift in time, but the stories thrive and promulgate when they can be tied to a location. Elizabeth Friend, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for promulgate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for promulgate
Verb
  • Only Frontier Airlines had a worse showing in the U.S., Cirium said in a report published Thursday.
    Kate Gibson, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2025
  • The selected artist will have the opportunity to create a special photography project to be published in the print edition of Vogue Ukraine in 2025.
    PhotoVogue, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The nominations were announced on the SAG Awards website.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the equivalent of three full-time fire department positions — likely non-firefighter staff members — are slated to be among 91 or so layoffs expected to soon be announced.
    Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Houthis, a rebel faction from Yemen's northern mountains that took over much of the country a decade ago, proclaimed their maritime campaign in protest of Israel's war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
    Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, marking the day in 1865 when freedom was proclaimed in Texas.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Biden declared Thursday, Jan. 9 a national day of mourning for the 39th president of the United States.
    Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
  • Decades before sanctuary cities became a vigorous partisan debate, Sacramento declared itself as one of the first in America.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Beginning in 1992, the Ontological-Hysteric occupied an upper chamber of the beautiful St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, and Foreman advertised his yearly shows there with blizzards of black-and-white posters, which were wheat-pasted all over the Village every winter.
    Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Ladders, a career site for six-figure positions, reports 10.4% of roles that pay $250,000 or more were advertised as remote in the third quarter of 2024, up from 8.8% in the second quarter.
    Morgan Smith, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near promulgate

Cite this Entry

“Promulgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/promulgate. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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