WordValedenounce
to publicly condemn
In more detail
1. (verb) to publicly say that someone or something is bad or wrong
2. (verb) to inform authorities that someone has done something illegal or wrong
Examples
- 1. Environmental groups denounce the company for polluting the river.
- 2. She denounced her neighbor to the police for stealing her car.
How to use denounce
Denounce conveys strong disapproval or condemnation, often in a public or official context. It can mean either to criticize something severely or to report someone to authorities. The term carries weight and formality; it suggests moral judgment rather than casual complaint.
Common phrases
- denounce as a traitor
- denounce publicly
- denounce someone to authorities
- denounce corruption
- strongly denounce
Synonyms
condemn · criticize · censure · accuse · inform against
Opposites
praise · commend · support
Word family
denunciation (noun) · denunciatory (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use denounce when they simply mean 'deny' or 'disagree with'—denounce requires an element of public condemnation or formal accusation, not mere disagreement.
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