denounce
gb/dɪnˈaʊns/ us/dɪnˈaʊns/
C1
English
~ 7600
elítél, feljelent, felmond
VERB
C1
FORMAL
1
elítél
B2
Usage pattern:
to denounce [someone/something] (as [adjective])
International leaders quickly denounced the bombing as an act of terrorism.
A nemzetközi vezetők gyorsan terrorcselekményként ítélték el a robbantást.
Several human rights groups denounced the new law as discriminatory and unjust.
Számos emberi jogi szervezet elítélte az új törvényt, mert szerintük diszkriminatív és igazságtalan.
Her speech openly denounced corruption within the local government.
The article strongly denounced the company’s treatment of its workers.
Protesters gathered outside the embassy to denounce the decision.
Learner examples
Many people denounced the plan as unfair.
Sokan elítélték a tervet, mert igazságtalannak tartották.
The president denounced the attack on television.
Az elnök a televízióban elítélte a támadást.
Activists denounced the new rule as dangerous.
The report denounced the company for lying to the public.
Leaders around the world denounced the use of chemical weapons.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "denounce" with "announce" because the words look similar. "Announce" means to tell people about something, often in a neutral way. "Denounce" always means to strongly say something is bad or wrong, usually in public. It is also more formal than simple verbs like "say" or "tell".
Meaning
publicly criticize as wrong
Collocations
denounce the attack
|denounce violence
|denounce corruption
|denounce human rights abuses
|publicly denounce
|universally denounced
Synonyms
condemn (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and a bit broader in use, including both formal and everyday contexts.)
Antonyms
praise (Opposite because it expresses strong approval instead of strong public disapproval.)
Themes
politics
|ethics
|media
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To say in public, often in strong words, that a person, action, or idea is very bad or wrong.
To publicly declare that someone or something is very wrong, evil, or unacceptable, especially in a moral, political, or social sense.
VERB
C2
FORMAL
2
feljelent
B2
Usage pattern:
to denounce [someone] to [the authorities]
The witness finally denounced his former partner to the police.
A tanú végül feljelentette volt társát a rendőrségen.
Under the regime, people were afraid their own family might denounce them to the authorities.
A rezsim alatt az emberek attól féltek, hogy még a saját családjuk is feljelentheti őket a hatóságoknál.
Several employees denounced the manager to the labor inspector for abusive behavior.
He was denounced to the court as a traitor by his closest friend.
Neighbors secretly denounced the gang leaders to the police.
Learner examples
She denounced her husband to the police for fraud.
Csalás miatt feljelentette a férjét a rendőrségen.
The worker denounced his boss to the government office.
A dolgozó feljelentette a főnökét az illetékes hivatalnál.
Many people were denounced to the police during the war.
He was afraid someone would denounce him to the authorities.
The student denounced the teacher to the school director.
Common mistake:
Learners may use this meaning when they only want to say "criticize". This sense requires informing some authority (like the police, a court, or an official body). If there is no authority involved, the general sense "denounce" = "strongly criticize" should be used instead.
Meaning
report someone to authorities
Collocations
denounce someone to the police
|denounce a neighbor to the authorities
|denounce collaborators
|secretly denounce
|publicly denounced to the court
Synonyms
inform on (Similar meaning but more informal and often used for secretly telling the authorities about someone, especially in a spying or criminal context.)
Antonyms
protect (Opposite in this context because it means to keep someone safe from blame or punishment instead of exposing their wrongdoing.)
Themes
law
|crime
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To tell the police or other authorities that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
To formally accuse or report someone to the authorities, especially for illegal or immoral behavior.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
3
felmond
B2
Usage pattern:
to denounce [a treaty/agreement/convention]
The government announced its intention to denounce the trade treaty within six months.
A kormány bejelentette, hogy hat hónapon belül felmondja a kereskedelmi egyezményt.
According to the agreement, any party may denounce the convention by giving one year’s notice.
A megállapodás szerint bármelyik fél felmondhatja az egyezményt egyéves felmondási idővel.
Several states threatened to denounce the pact after the new regulations were introduced.
The country formally denounced the security treaty in a letter to the United Nations.
Under international law, a state must follow specific procedures to denounce a treaty.
Learner examples
The country decided to denounce the old treaty.
Az ország úgy döntött, hogy felmondja a régi egyezményt.
Three nations said they would denounce the agreement next year.
Három ország közölte, hogy jövőre felmondják a megállapodást.
A state can denounce a convention if it no longer agrees with it.
They announced that they would denounce the peace treaty.
The leader promised not to denounce the climate deal.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is the same as simply "criticize" a treaty. Here it means to legally end or withdraw from the treaty, not just complain about it.
Meaning
formally end a treaty
Collocations
denounce a treaty
|denounce an agreement
|denounce a convention
|formally denounce
|denounce the accord
Synonyms
terminate (General legal term for ending an agreement; does not specifically carry the diplomatic or treaty-related nuance of "denounce".)
Antonyms
ratify (Opposite in a treaty context because it means to formally approve and accept a treaty rather than formally ending it.)
Themes
law
|politics
|business
Definition
To officially say that a country or group will stop following a treaty or agreement.
In legal or diplomatic contexts, to formally announce that a state or party will no longer be bound by a treaty, agreement, or contract.
Grammar
Dictionary form
denounce
IPA
GB/dɪnˈaʊns/
US/dɪnˈaʊns/
Syllables & stress
de - nounce (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (nounce)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: denounce
- 3rd Person Singular: denounces
- Present Participle: denouncing
- Past: denounced
Word family
Forms
denounces
verb
denouncing
verb
denounced
verb
Core family
denunciation
noun C1
Related words
denouncer
noun
Advanced or less common
denunciatory
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.