verb (used with object), de·nounced, de·nounc·ing.
- to condemn or censure openly or publicly: to denounce a politician as morally corrupt.
- to make a formal accusation against, as to the police or in a court.
- to give formal notice of the termination or denial of (a treaty, pact, agreement, or the like).
- Archaic. to announce or proclaim, especially as something evil or calamitous.
- Obsolete. to portend.
verb (tr)
- to deplore or condemn openly or vehemently
- to give information against; accuse
- to announce formally the termination of (a treaty, etc)
- obsolete
- to announce (something evil)
- to portend
early 14c., “announce,” from Old French denoncier (12c., Modern French dénoncer), from Latin denuntiare “to announce, proclaim; denounce, menace; command, order,” from de- “down” + nuntiare “proclaim, announce,” from nuntius “messenger” (see nuncio). Negative sense in English via meaning “to declare or proclaim” something as cursed, excommunicated, forgiven, removed from office. Related: Denounced; denouncing.