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Denounce
To publicly condemn or criticize something or someone.
verb💡
Imagine This
Imagine this: To severely criticize someone, one must use an adjective, like bad, as well as the nouns like boys, or the sentence won’t make sense.
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Sounds Like
Sounds like: announce (denounce rhymes with announce)
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Looks Like
Looks like: announce; contains 'noun' and relates to condemning
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Remember This
From Latin denuntiare 'to announce publicly'; the noun form is denunciation.
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Other Forms
denunciationnoun
denouncernoun
denouncingverb
denouncesverb
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Note
Denounce is stronger than simply criticize; it involves public condemnation. Do not confuse with renounce (to give up) or denigrate (to belittle or demean).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The editor denounced the politician's corruption in a televised address.
- Whistleblowers denounced the company's unsafe practices to the regulators.
Synonyms
condemncriticizedecrycensurevilify
Antonyms
praisecommendendorse
Etymology
From Old French denoncer, from Latin denuntiare 'to announce publicly, declare'.
Mnemonic
DeNOUNCe: pronounce against a noun.
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Amorphous
adjectiveHaving no definite form or shape; lacking a clear structure.
Ephemeral
adjectiveLasting for only a short time; short-lived.
Toxic
adjectivePoisonous; capable of causing harm to living beings. It is also used figuratively to describe something harmful, destructive, or dangerous in a non-physical sense (for example, a toxic relationship).
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Condemn
verbTo express strong disapproval of something or someone, and to declare them unfit, wrong, or deserving of punishment; in a legal sense, to sentence a person to punishment.
Censure
verbTo express strong disapproval of (someone or something); to condemn or rebuke, typically in a formal or official manner.
Decry
verbTo publicly condemn or denounce something; to express strong disapproval of a policy, action, or idea.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
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