diff --git a/docs/pages/release_notes.md b/docs/pages/release_notes.md
index 4ea9b3b8b4..af11e28aff 100644
--- a/docs/pages/release_notes.md
+++ b/docs/pages/release_notes.md
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ For the changes, see [PMD Designer Changelog](https://github.com/pmd/pmd-designe
 
 ### API Changes
 
+#### Deprecated API
+
+* {% jdoc core::lang.dfa.DFAGraphRule %} and its implementations
+* {% jdoc core::lang.dfa.DFAGraphMethod %}
+
 ### External Contributions
 
 *   [#2251](https://github.com/pmd/pmd/pull/2251): \[java] FP for InvalidLogMessageFormat when using slf4j-Markers - [Kris Scheibe](https://github.com/kris-scheibe)
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/dfa/DFAGraphMethod.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/dfa/DFAGraphMethod.java
index 816b3c51b7..7343285c64 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/dfa/DFAGraphMethod.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/dfa/DFAGraphMethod.java
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ package net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.dfa;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.Node;
 
+/**
+ * @deprecated Only used by the deprecated designer
+ */
+@Deprecated
 public interface DFAGraphMethod extends Node {
 
     String getName();
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/dfa/DFAGraphRule.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/dfa/DFAGraphRule.java
index b41ee9e32b..03926d5d67 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/dfa/DFAGraphRule.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/dfa/DFAGraphRule.java
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ import java.util.List;
 
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.Rule;
 
+/**
+ * @deprecated Only used by the deprecated designer
+ */
+@Deprecated
 public interface DFAGraphRule extends Rule {
     List<DFAGraphMethod> getMethods();
 }
diff --git a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/dfa/JavaDFAGraphRule.java b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/dfa/JavaDFAGraphRule.java
index f8eb752fdf..09a62b66e4 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/dfa/JavaDFAGraphRule.java
+++ b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/dfa/JavaDFAGraphRule.java
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.ast.ASTCompilationUnit;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.ast.ASTMethodDeclaration;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.rule.AbstractJavaRule;
 
+/**
+ * @deprecated Only used by the deprecated designer
+ */
+@Deprecated
 public class JavaDFAGraphRule extends AbstractJavaRule implements DFAGraphRule {
 
     private List<DFAGraphMethod> methods;
diff --git a/pmd-plsql/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/plsql/dfa/DFAPLSQLGraphRule.java b/pmd-plsql/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/plsql/dfa/DFAPLSQLGraphRule.java
index 01c5309a00..21fc00ada9 100644
--- a/pmd-plsql/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/plsql/dfa/DFAPLSQLGraphRule.java
+++ b/pmd-plsql/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/plsql/dfa/DFAPLSQLGraphRule.java
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.plsql.ast.ASTTriggerUnit;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.plsql.ast.ASTTypeMethod;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.plsql.rule.AbstractPLSQLRule;
 
+/**
+ * @deprecated Only used by the deprecated designer
+ */
+@Deprecated
 public class DFAPLSQLGraphRule extends AbstractPLSQLRule implements DFAGraphRule {
 
     private List<DFAGraphMethod> executables;