denounce

To publicly say very strongly that someone or something is bad or wrong.

• The mayor denounced the violence.
• She publicly denounced the government's decision.
• Several speakers denounced him as a liar.

How to use it: denounce someone/something as something (Campaigners denounced the policy as unfair.)

Similar words: condemn, criticize, decry

Opposites: praise

Common phrases: denounce violence, publicly denounce something, denounce someone as

To formally accuse someone of wrongdoing, especially by reporting them to the authorities.

• Someone denounced him to the police.
• She refused to denounce her friends.
• The arrested man had been denounced as a spy.

How to use it: denounce someone to someone (He denounced his former partner to the police.); denounce someone for something (A neighbour denounced her for hiding stolen goods.)

Similar words: report, inform on, accuse

Common phrases: denounce someone to, denounce a suspect, denounce a neighbour