Synonym Chooser

How does the verb promulgate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of promulgate are announce, declare, and proclaim. While all these words mean "to make known publicly," promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

When is it sensible to use announce instead of promulgate?

In some situations, the words announce and promulgate are roughly equivalent. However, announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

In what contexts can declare take the place of promulgate?

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

the referee declared the contest a draw

When can proclaim be used instead of promulgate?

The meanings of proclaim and promulgate largely overlap; however, proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

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 promulgate The idea, most notably promulgated by animal rights activist and Princeton University bioethics professor Peter Singer, influenced Khawaja into further study. Simon Mainwaring, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 On Sunday night, Americans were treated to a variety of spurious allegations promulgated by several former State Department employees who have made a vocation of insisting that no one will listen to them. Noah Rothman, National Review, 13 Jan. 2025 That campaign, featuring billboards, videos and a book co-authored by Mr. Gaydos, promulgated the theory that birds are really drone replicas designed to spy on Americans. Victor Mather, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 The good news kept coming a week later, on Dec. 30, when Newark Federal Judge Leo Gordon promulgated his own 72-page opinion. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for promulgate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for promulgate
Verb
  • In 2024, the ADL published a report detailing an increase in jihadist terrorist incidents nationwide, including several plots to cause mass casualties.
    Will Carless, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Her monograph of the same title was published last year by Dewi Lewis.
    Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • On Friday night, Andress’ posting of her new version of the anthem on social media — which had not been announced in advance — was starting to draw some favorable responses.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 1 Mar. 2025
  • In October 2024, the Democrat announced he and others, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, would be pushing to more than double the current allotment, bringing the cap up to $750 million a year.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Since the end of the cold war, the U.S. has proclaimed its missile defenses were not meant to block an incoming attack from China or Russia, just loose North Korean ones.
    Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Both actively and publicly proclaimed their imperialist or ethnocentric views.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • In January, Hamden passed an ordinance declaring housing as a human right.
    Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The cosmic coincidence had the Warriors’ official social media accounts declaring Feb. 27 as Stephen Curry Day.
    Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Research suggests that about 50% of products advertised to Black women contain these types of chemicals, compared with about 7% that are advertised to White women, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
    Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025
  • According to Variety, the website had been advertising its typical selection of merchandise and athleisure wear on Sunday, but all of those items were removed and replaced with the swastika shirt shortly after the ad aired.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Promulgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/promulgate. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

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