denounce
dee-NOWNS
Denounce (verb) means to publicly criticize or condemn someone or something as wrong. Example: “The senator denounced the decision as a betrayal of voters.”
verb
1
To publicly criticize or condemn someone or something as wrong.
"The senator denounced the decision as a betrayal of voters."
"Human rights groups denounced the crackdown on protesters."
2
To formally accuse or inform against someone.
"He was denounced to the authorities by a former colleague."
How to use denounce
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo speak out strongly against something, or to formally accuse someone.
Common pairings
publicly denounce
denounce as
denounce the attack
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like denounce.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- denounces
- Past tense
- denounced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The senator _____ the decision as a betrayal of voters.
Etymology
From Old French denuncier, from Latin dēnūntiō, "to announce or threaten."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for denounce
See all rhymes for denounce →Frequently asked questions
What does “denounce” mean?
The word “denounce” means to publicly criticize or condemn someone or something as wrong. In plain terms, to speak out strongly against something, or to formally accuse someone.
How do you pronounce “denounce”?
“Denounce” is pronounced dee-NOWNS (/diˈnaʊns/ in IPA).
How do you use “denounce” in a sentence?
Here is “denounce” used in a sentence: “The senator denounced the decision as a betrayal of voters.”
What part of speech is “denounce”?
“Denounce” is a verb.
Where does the word “denounce” come from?
The word “denounce” comes from Latin. From Old French denuncier, from Latin dēnūntiō, "to announce or threaten.".
Is “denounce” a common word?
“Denounce” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “denounce” have?
“Denounce” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to publicly criticize or condemn someone or something as wrong.
