Definition of DECRY

Choose the Right Synonym for decry

decry, depreciate, disparage, belittle mean to express a low opinion of. decry implies open condemnation with intent to discredit. decried their defeatist attitude depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed. critics depreciate his plays for being unabashedly sentimental disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison. disparaged polo as a game for the rich belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude. belittled the achievements of others

Examples of decry in a Sentence

In her article, she decries the pollution of the environment by manufacturers. Violence on television is generally decried as harmful to children.

Recent Examples on the Web

My heart is heavy right now,’’ Wheatley said , decrying both Rose’s death and the street violence that earlier in the week left a young rapper dead. — Claudia Lauer, BostonGlobe.com, "Police shooting of Pa. boy spurs more protests, appeals," 22 June 2018 The reconstruction project for Hayward Field also has been controversial, with some decrying plans to raze the east grandstand, the oldest part of the 99-year-old stadium. — Ken Goe, OregonLive.com, "Eugene ready and willing as USA Track & Field reopens bidding for 2020 Olympic Trials," 1 May 2018 First, Trump has long decried its open-borders approach to refugees as the antithesis of the approach the Western world needs. — Aaron Blake, Washington Post, "Trump goes ‘madman’ on our allies, with swipe at Germany," 11 July 2018 Critics have also decried Trump’s comments about deportation that suggested migrants, including asylum seekers, should be deported immediately, without due process — rights afforded even to noncitizens under the Constitution. — Jen Kirby, Vox, "Attorney General Jeff Sessions claims “lunatic fringe” oppose Trump’s border policies," 26 June 2018 Raoul took office in January, and Van Dyke’s attorneys have decried the decision to review the sentence as a political stunt. — Don Babwin, The Seattle Times, "Prosecutors seek new sentence in Laquan McDonald case," 12 Feb. 2019 Conservatives have long decried political correctness. — Peggy Noonan, WSJ, "Baby, There’s a Chilling Effect Outside," 3 Jan. 2019 Being bad at your job is not a crime As the recount was going on, President Donald Trump and other Republicans decried supposed voter fraud in Broward County (though the state saw no evidence of this actually happening). — Jane Coaston, Vox, "Brenda Snipes says she won’t resign as Broward County election supervisor after all," 3 Dec. 2018 In Washington State on Saturday, Governor Jay Inslee and fellow Democrats decried the federal government’s decision to separate children of asylum seekers from their parents indefinitely, the Associated Press reported. — Jeffery C. Mays, BostonGlobe.com, "Honduran man kills himself after threat of family separation at border," 10 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for decry

borrowed from French décrier "to discredit, depreciate," going back to Middle French descrier (15th century), from des- de- + crier "to cry entry 1"

Note: A supposed 13th-century French usage of descrier in the sense "to announce (the depreciation or suppression of a currency)," mentioned without citation in the Französisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, has never been found and should probably be disregarded. See also note at descry entry 1.

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