"Proclaim" refers to making an official announcement or declaration, but what about its opposite? Some antonyms for "proclaim" include "denounce," "retract," "recant," "disclaim," and "refute." These words suggest negativity or rejection of a statement, rather than a public confirmation of it. For example, someone might denounce a position or belief, retract a statement previously made, recant an earlier assertion, refute a claim made by someone else, or disavow any association with a particular idea. While "proclaim" is associated with a sense of authority and certainty, its antonyms imply doubt, uncertainty, or outright disagreement.