DECRY Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'decry' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of decry are belittle , depreciate , and disparage . While all these words mean "to express a low opinion of," decry implies open condemnation with intent to discredit. // decried their defeatist attitude

Q: In what contexts can 'belittle' take the place of 'decry'?

The words belittle and decry are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude. // belittled the achievements of others

Q: Where would 'depreciate' be a reasonable alternative to 'decry'?

The words depreciate and decry can be used in similar contexts, but depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed. // critics depreciate his plays for being unabashedly sentimental

Q: When would 'disparage' be a good substitute for 'decry'?

Although the words disparage and decry have much in common, disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison. // disparaged polo as a game for the rich

decry

verb

di-ˈkrī

Definition of decry

as in to dismiss

to express scornfully one's low opinion of scientists were quick to decry the claims of the psychic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to denounce

to declare to be morally wrong or evil a statement by the church decrying modern society's liberal attitude regarding marriage and divorce

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb decry contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of decry are belittle, depreciate, and disparage. While all these words mean "to express a low opinion of," decry implies open condemnation with intent to discredit.

decried their defeatist attitude

In what contexts can belittle take the place of decry?

The words belittle and decry are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude.

belittled the achievements of others

Where would depreciate be a reasonable alternative to decry?

The words depreciate and decry can be used in similar contexts, but depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed.

critics depreciate his plays for being unabashedly sentimental

When would disparage be a good substitute for decry?

Although the words disparage and decry have much in common, disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison.

disparaged polo as a game for the rich

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 decry Some decried Stonepeak’s ownership of Omni Air International, a charter airline that carried out long-haul deportation flights for the federal government. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Groups including the Israeli American Council and the Anti-Defamation League decried Macklemore’s performance on social media, with the former publishing a petition calling on Sheeran to remove the rapper from the remaining shows. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Jewish and Christian leaders publicly decry the violence against Muslims. — Reshma Memon Yaqub, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 California also remains the nation’s most populous state and the world’s fourth-largest economy, even as critics decry the state’s high taxes that have pushed some businesses and residents alike into other states. — Steve Peoples, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decry

Verb

The complaint escalates the department’s battle with the federal judiciary, which has halted administration priorities, dismissed high-profile prosecutions and accused government lawyers in some cases of failing to comply with court orders.

— Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
The state did not seek to dismiss allegations related to Morrissey’s statements to the media or to her agreement to log a cache of bullets under a separate case number, functionally hiding them from the defense.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Verb

Neon’s announcement comes after the SCP Wiki team denounced a film from A24, Spooky Pictures and Image Nation shortly after it was unveiled.

— Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
The merger has been unpopular in Hollywood and critics denounced the settlement as weak.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of denounce

Verb

The 49ers have played from ahead in each of their three games, minimizing obvious passing situations and third-and-longs.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Those challenges include performing nonlinear operations, incorporating memory, maintaining computational precision, minimizing optical losses and integrating photonic components with conventional electronics.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of minimize

Verb

In a rare sign of unity within Kosovo's fractured legislative assembly, lawmakers earlier this week unanimously condemned the war crimes verdicts in a declaration.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Particularly, individuals on the Right are condemning the fraternity members being picked apart in the public court of opinion.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of condemn

Verb

The group of senators — which includes all Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Africa panel — criticized both sides of the conflict.

— Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026
In 2021, Cruz sought to revoke Major League Baseball’s century-old antitrust immunity after the MLB decided to move its All-Star Game from Atlanta in response to a new Georgia voting law civil rights groups had criticized as restrictive.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of criticize

Verb

Hammer’s been leaning into the Jerry Springer comparisons lately, and who can blame him?

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
The latest incident came more than a decade after South Korea blamed the North for land mine explosions that maimed two South Korean soldiers and sharply raised tensions between the countries in August 2015.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of blame

Verb

Yes, that’s twice as many treatment options as the previous Series 2 mask—which means this pick is clinically proven to diminish the appearance of crepiness by stimulating collagen and elastin, as well as pigmentation concerns.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026
Likewise, the failure to hire an effective leader for the Blockchain Association has diminished the industry’s influence in the Capitol.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminish

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“Decry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decry. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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