To denounce means to publicly declare that something or someone is wrong or bad. When you denounce something, you speak out strongly and clearly against it, making your opposition known to others.

If a principal denounces bullying at a school assembly, she's making a firm, public statement that bullying is unacceptable. When citizens denounce a corrupt official, they're calling out wrongdoing openly, often hoping others will join them. Historical figures like Frederick Douglass denounced slavery in powerful speeches, helping others see its terrible injustice.

The word carries a sense of moral conviction and public courage. You might privately disagree with a rule, but when you denounce it, you're taking a stand where others can hear you. A scientist might denounce faulty research that misleads people. A group of students might denounce an unfair policy at their school.

Denounce often appears in formal contexts: news reports, speeches, or official statements. It's stronger than simply criticizing something. When you denounce something, you're declaring it wrong and often calling on others to reject it too.