decry

[ dih-krahy ]

verb (used with object)

, de·cried, de·cry·ing.

1. to speak disparagingly of; denounce as faulty or worthless; express censure of:

   She decried the lack of support for the arts in this country.

   Synonyms: minimize, depreciate, discredit, disparage, belittle

2. to condemn or depreciate by proclamation, as foreign or obsolete coins.

decry

/ dɪˈkraɪ /

verb

1. to express open disapproval of; disparage
2. to depreciate by proclamation

   to decry obsolete coinage

Derived Forms

• deˈcrier, noun
• deˈcrial, noun

Other Words From

• de·crier noun
• unde·cried adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of decry¹

1610–20; < French décrier, Old French descrier. See dis- ¹, cry

Word History and Origins

Origin of decry¹

C17: from Old French descrier, from des- dis - ¹+ crier to cry

Synonym Study

Decry, denigrate, deprecate, derogate all involve the expression of censure or disapproval. Decry means to express one's vigorous disapproval of or to denounce: to decry all forms of discrimination. Denigrate means to speak damagingly of, to criticize in derogative terms: denigrating his works as trifling and poorly executed. Deprecate implies the expression of earnest, thoughtful disapproval: to deprecate a plan because of possible environmental damage. Derogate means to speak in such a way as to decrease the status, high quality, or good reputation of someone or something, making the person or object seem of less value: Fear of change makes them derogate every proposal put forth.

Example Sentences

But at a Dec. 7 council meeting, employees of the medical offices turned out to decry the project, saying they already felt unsafe because of the number of homeless people in the area.

From Los Angeles Times

“The FDA’s war on public health is about to end,” he wrote, decrying the agency’s “aggressive suppression” of such worthless anti-COVID nostrums as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

From Los Angeles Times

She was executed for scattering leaflets at the University of Munich, decrying the inhumanity of the war.

From Salon

Jones is renowned for “reexamining” American tragedies and decrying them as a hoax.

From Los Angeles Times

The internal election spilled into public view, with an op-ed appearing in The New York Times, and 13 of the club’s past presidents wrote an open letter decrying the anti-immigrant candidates as bigots.

From Salon

Related Words

• belittle
• condemn
• denounce
• minimize