denounce

denounce — verb

1. to express strong public disapproval of a person, policy, or action, often throu

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to express strong public disapproval of a person, policy, or action, often through speech or writing with clear moral judgement.

Example

Élise stood before the town council to denounce the plan to close the local library.

denounce + [plan] — public official setting

The opposition newspaper denounced the new tax policy as unfair to low-income families.

denounce + noun + as + adjective phrasing the reason

Common collocations
  • denounce publicly
  • denounce strongly
  • denounce as unfair / dangerous / racist
  • denounce in the press
  • loudly denounce
  • widely denounced
Synonyms
  • condemn

    Similar in strength but often less focused on publicity; 'condemn' stresses moral judgement while 'denounce' stresses public accusation.

  • criticize

    A general term much broader in scope; lacking the forcefulness and formality of 'denounce'.

  • censure

    Refers to an official, institutional expression of disapproval rather than a public moral outcry.

  • decry

    Slightly more literary; emphasizes expressing strong disapproval openly, often in response to perceived decline or injustice.

Antonyms
  • praise

    Direct opposite — express warm approval of someone or something.

  • commend

    Formal opposite — to praise officially or publicly.

Grammar Patterns

denounce + noun phrase

denounce + noun phrase + as + noun/adjective

denounce + noun phrase + for + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Frequently used in political, journalistic, and activist contexts. Stronger and more formal than 'criticize' — it implies a forceful, often moral condemnation. The passive voice is common when the condemning group is less important than the target: 'The policy was denounced by human rights groups.'

Common Mistakes

I denounced my friend for being late.
I criticized my friend for being late.
'Denounce' is too formal and dramatic for everyday disagreements; use 'criticize' or 'complain' instead.
The article announced the government's corruption.
The article denounced the government's corruption.
'Announce' means to state something publicly (often neutrally), while 'denounce' means to criticize it strongly.

2. to give information to the police or other authorities about someone's wrongdoin

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to give information to the police or other authorities about someone's wrongdoing, especially when it relates to political matters.

Example

During the war, many people were denounced to the secret police by their neighbors.

passive: be denounced + to + [authority] + by + [person]

The dissident was denounced by a colleague and arrested the same week.

Common collocations
  • denounce to the police
  • denounce as a spy
  • denounce for treason
  • denounce to the authorities
  • falsely denounced
Synonyms
  • report

    General term for telling authorities about wrongdoing; lacks the political and moral weight of 'denounce'.

  • inform on

    More informal; often implies secret betrayal rather than public accusation to authorities.

  • expose

    Focuses on revealing wrongdoing to the public rather than specifically to authorities.

Antonyms
  • conceal

    To hide or keep secret, especially wrongdoing.

  • protect

    To shield someone from exposure or punishment.

Grammar Patterns

denounce + noun phrase + to + authority figure

denounce + noun phrase + for + noun/gerund

be denounced + by + noun phrase + to + noun phrase

Usage Note

The person being reported is the direct object; the authority receiving the information is introduced with 'to'. This sense frequently appears in historical contexts involving political persecution or wartime informants. The passive construction ('was denounced to') is particularly common.

Common Mistakes

She denounced the police about her neighbor.
She denounced her neighbor to the police.
With 'denounce' in this sense, the accused person is the direct object, not the authority.
He denounced that his colleague was stealing.
He denounced his colleague for stealing.
'Denounce' takes a person or group as object, not a that-clause.

Word family

  • denouncement
    nounC1
  • denunciation
    nounC1
  • denunciatory
    adjectiveC2
  • denouncer
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words involve expressing disapproval, but they differ in strength, formality, and context. 'Criticize' is the broadest and most neutral — you can criticize a meal, a movie, or a government policy without moral weight. 'Denounce' is stronger and more formal: it implies a public, often moral accusation against a person or policy. 'Condemn' is similar in strength but leans more toward a moral or legal judgement than a public rallying cry. 'Censure' is the most formal and institutional — used when a governing body officially rebukes a member or action. 'Decry' is the most literary of the group, often used to protest perceived decline or injustice ('decry the loss of traditional values'). For everyday disagreement, use 'criticize'; for a dramatic public accusation, 'denounce' or 'condemn'; for official rebuke, 'censure'.

condemn ↗criticize ↗censuredecry

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • as unfair
  • for its treatment
  • to the authorities
  • in the strongest terms
  • by name

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'dēntiāre' (to announce formally, declare, proclaim), formed from 'de-' (down, away) + 'nuntiāre' (to announce, report), which comes from 'nuntius' (messenger). The word entered English via French 'dénoncer' in the 14th–15th centuries, originally with the neutral sense 'to announce formally'. By the 17th century it had shifted to 'to condemn publicly', and by the 18th century it developed the additional meaning 'to inform against'. The two modern meanings — public condemnation and reporting wrongdoers — both carry the core idea of speaking out, but with very different intentions.