PROCLAIM Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'proclaim' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of proclaim are announce , declare , and promulgate . While all these words mean "to make known publicly," proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively. // the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

Q: When could 'announce' be used to replace 'proclaim'?

The words announce and proclaim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time. // announced their engagement at a party

Q: When might 'declare' be a better fit than 'proclaim'?

Although the words declare and proclaim have much in common, declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known. // the referee declared the contest a draw

Q: In what contexts can 'promulgate' take the place of 'proclaim'?

The words promulgate and proclaim can be used in similar contexts, but promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law. // promulgated an edict of religious toleration

proclaim

verb

prō-ˈklām

Definition of proclaim next

as in to announce

to make known openly or publicly loudly proclaimed her innocence, to widespread disbelief

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb proclaim differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of proclaim are announce, declare, and promulgate. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

When could announce be used to replace proclaim?

The words announce and proclaim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

When might declare be a better fit than proclaim?

Although the words declare and proclaim have much in common, declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.

the referee declared the contest a draw

In what contexts can promulgate take the place of proclaim?

The words promulgate and proclaim 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 proclaim In a previous era, local officials would constantly proclaim that there wasn’t a Republican or Democratic way to fill a pothole or pick up garbage. —

Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026 Wherever Lafayette traveled, parades and speeches proclaimed the United States the world’s beacon of liberty. —

Regina E. Mason, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026 And while the exact statistics are impossible to determine, several current ghostwriting websites proclaim that over 50% of the books currently on the NY Times non-fiction bestseller list have been ghostwritten, though many agents and ghostwriters assure me that figure is too low. —

Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026 Turning to jurors during closing arguments, defense attorney Christian Maroni proclaimed Jones’ innocence. —

Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for proclaim

Recent Examples of Synonyms for proclaim

Verb

On April 1 — April Whew’s Day for the Aztecs — Gwath announced his return after the MESA Foundation put together a more competitive agreement that, of course, was still well short of what the blue bloods could offer.

— Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The exact cause of the crash has not been publicly announced, but likely the result of mechanical failure, a midair refueling accident, or a fuel system malfunction.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026