Denounce — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Denounce (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. to declare to be morally wrong or evil

   "the church council denounced the bishop's teachings, officially declaring them to be heresy"

   similar: anathematize, censure, condemn, damn, decry, execrate, reprehend, reprobate
   related: attack, blame, blast, criticize, dis (slang), dispraise, fault, knock, pan, slam, belittle, deprecate, disparage, doom, sentence, convict, blacklist, excommunicate, ostracize, castigate, chastise, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, admonish, chide, reprove, berate, lambaste, rake, scold, upbraid, vituperate, curse, imprecate, abhor, abominate, detest, hate, loathe, revile
   opposite: bless
   near: approve, endorse, sanction, eulogize, exalt, extol, glorify, laud, praise, acclaim, applaud, commend, hail, salute, tout, consecrate, hallow, sanctify, honor, revere, venerate

2. to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of

   "denounced the shoddy merchandise that the local shops were foisting on tourists"

   similar: blame, censure, condemn, criticize, deplore, dis (slang), dispraise, fault, knock, pan, reprehend, slag (chiefly British), come down hard (on), find fault (with), take to task
   related: skewer, tweak, assail, attack, blast, clobber, slam, slash, nick (at), snipe (at), beef, bellyache, bitch, carp, cavil, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grouse, growl, grumble, kick, kvetch, moan, murmur, mutter, niggle, quibble, whine, admonish, chide, drub, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, berate, castigate, crucify, excoriate, flay, gibbet, hammer, keelhaul, lambaste, lash, pillory, scold, upbraid, bad-mouth, belittle, decry, deride, discommend, disparage, put down
   opposite: extol, laud, praise
   near: approve, commend, endorse, recommend, sanction

3. to express public or formal disapproval of

   "the governor has denounced the court's decision and vows to press for a constitutional amendment"

   similar: censure, condemn, objurgate, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove, bring to account, call to account
   related: admonish, chastise, castigate, punish, bawl out, berate, chew out, cut up, dress down, flay, gibbet, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste, lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rate, scold, score, tell off, upbraid, belittle, criticize, deprecate, depreciate, disparage
   opposite: cite, commend, endorse
   near: acclaim, applaud, hail, honor, eulogize, laud, praise, approve, bless, sanction