declaim

1
as in to speak
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject over the last two centuries some of the most illustrious personages of their times have declaimed in the town's historic lyceum

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2
as in to harangue
to talk as if giving an important and formal speech he declaimed at some length about the nation's obligation to spread democratic values around the world

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of declaim In his tableau-like compositions, with their classical-painterly lighting, his characters declaim, bringing a blunt candor to a refined and abstracted sensibility. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025 Dugin could declaim on their work for hours, and did. James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025 The Koreans have a lesson to share with those whose intellectuals, driven by identity and the metaphysics of difference, declaim ownership of the Enlightenment and its legacy. George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024 Keeping performers’ voices in good condition for that long haul is the province of a tribe of vocal coaches in Hollywood and everywhere else people sing or declaim for their supper. Jonathan Margolis, airmail.news, 21 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for declaim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declaim
Verb
  • Earlier in the day, Knowles spoke with Sherri Shepherd on the Sherri show, and praised Blue Ivy for performing onstage with her mother in front of crowds of 70,000 people per night.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Diane Brady is an award-winning business journalist and author who has interviewed newsmakers worldwide and often speaks about the global business landscape.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Truman would never have harangued the international community that America is First, or obstructed every effort to better the lot of humanity by asking what’s in it for the U.S., not in coming decades but during this news cycle.
    Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Philadelphia Phillies fan Drew Feltwell wants people to lay off the woman who harangued him and his son over a home run ball at a game last week.
    George Ramsay, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But Andres Bernal, a political analyst who lectures at the City University of New York, thinks many young voters look at Cuomo's history of controversy and are reminded of the Democratic Party establishment that has left them disillusioned.
    Brian Mann, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Before the Orange Bowl in January, Penn State head coach James Franklin used his dual pregame press conference with Marcus Freeman to lecture the college football world on his belief that Notre Dame should join a conference.
    Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Open Meeting Act prohibits directors from discussing (or orating) on matters not disclosed on the agenda, per Civil Code Section 4930(a).
    Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
  • The latter went on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and orated about his marathon oration sesh last week in Congress.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • So to be there, back in my home state, to cover something that was just so unthinkable, reprehensible, that's always stayed with me, just talking to people in the days and hours after that tragedy.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Therefore, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk with a healthcare provider before using sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners.
    Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The cycle can become so accidentally ubiquitous that the former kids who blissfully existed outside of whatever discourses these trends or bands started in their heyday wonder now, as adults, what was so bad about them in the first place.
    Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025
  • Admissions officers want to see that students will contribute meaningfully to discourse on campus.
    Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Declaim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declaim. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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