denounce

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /diˈnaʊns/ See IPA manual

Freq #17810

Meanings

1

verb
To criticize someone or something strongly and publicly.

World leaders quickly denounced the attack as an act of terror.
2

verb
To formally accuse someone, often to the authorities.

He was denounced to the police by a former colleague.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to criticize someone or... attack blast condemn

2 verb · to formally accuse someone,... accuseinform on

Word family

Forms denounceddenouncerdenouncesdenouncing

Derived forms denounceabledenouncementdenouncerredenounceundenounced

Related forms announcedenunciatedenunciation denunciativedenunciatordenunciatory enounce pronounce renounce

Simplified etymology

Denounce entered English in the Middle English period and ultimately derives from Latin nuntius, “messenger,” with the prefix de- carrying a negative sense. It shares its root with announce.

Etymology

From Old French denuncier, from Latin dēnūntiō (“to announce, to denounce, to threaten”), from de + nūntiō (“to announce, to report, to denounce”), from nūntius (“messenger, message”). Doublet of denunciate.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# denounce

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /diˈnaʊns/
**Frequency rank:** 17810

## Meanings
1. To criticize someone or something strongly and publicly.
2. To formally accuse someone, often to the authorities.

## Examples
- World leaders quickly denounced the attack as an act of terror.
- He was denounced to the police by a former colleague.

## Derived Forms
- denounceable
- denouncement
- denouncer
- redenounce
- undenounced

## Related Forms
- announce
- denunciate
- denunciation
- denunciative
- denunciator
- denunciatory
- enounce
- pronounce
- renounce

## Etymology
From Old French denuncier, from Latin dēnūntiō (“to announce, to denounce, to threaten”), from de + nūntiō (“to announce, to report, to denounce”), from nūntius (“messenger, message”). Doublet of denunciate.

## AI Etymology
Denounce is from Old French denuncier, from Latin dēnūntiō (“to announce, to denounce, to threaten”), from de + nūntiō (“to announce, to report, to denounce”), from nūntius (“messenger, message”). Doublet of denunciate. In present-day use, it can mean to criticize someone or something strongly and publicly, or to formally accuse someone, often to the authorities. Derived formations include denounceable, denouncement, denouncer, redenounce, and undenounced.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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