DECLARE Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

declare

verb

di-ˈkler

Definition of declare next

as in to announce

to make known openly or publicly she chose to declare her presidential aspirations at her college alma mater

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as in to insist

to state as a fact usually forcefully she would declare her innocence to the whole world if she could

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as in to assert

to state clearly and strongly our guest enthusiastically declared that the pie was the best he had ever eaten

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as in to reveal

to make known (something abstract) through outward signs though she was silent, her expression declared her unwillingness to go along with the others

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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 What’s a worse sin/crime — declaring an obvious murder a suicide to protect a perverted crony? —

Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026 Ana was declared dead close to midnight the day after the fire, her son said. —

Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026 For Amanda Knox, trying to prove her innocence while being declared guilty resulted in the hardest battle of her life. —

Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026 Other notable numbers Of the 69 players with eligibility remaining who declared early for the 2026 draft, 60 were selected (87 percent), including 40 in the first three rounds. —

Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for declare

Recent Examples of Synonyms for declare

Verb

Perhaps the most compelling moment of the 2026 NFL Draft came in the final round, when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected running back Eli Heidenreich and the pick was announced to the hometown crowd gathered at the event.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
When the Dodgers public address announcer read the Cubs starting lineup, Dodgers fans vehemently booed Crow-Armstrong, a trend that continued before each at-bat and again Saturday when he was announced pregame.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

Definition of announce

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declare

declared

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“Declare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declare. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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