denounce
Definitions
To publicly criticize or condemn someone or something
公开谴责，抨击
To formally accuse or report someone to the authorities
告发，检举
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedde- (down, against) + nounce (from nūntiāre, 'announce'). To denounce is to announce *against* someone — to point the message at a target. The result is public condemnation, or, more sharply, a formal accusation that reports someone to those in power.
Root nounc still carries 10 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.denounce as谴责为
- 2.publicly denounce公开谴责
- 3.denounce violence谴责暴力
- 4.denounce a policy抨击政策
- 5.strongly denounce强烈谴责
Example Sentences
- 1.
World leaders quickly denounced the attack as an act of terror.
- 2.
She publicly denounced the new policy as unfair.
- 3.
He was denounced to the secret police by a neighbor.
Easily Confused
denounce vs condemn — Both mean to express strong disapproval, but denounce is louder and more public, often naming and attacking a target by name (denounce a leader as corrupt). condemn can be a quieter, more general moral judgment (condemn racism). Also note 'denounce as X' is the common pattern: denounce something as a fraud.