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

Amendments suggested by Mactaggart were scrapped ahead of the committee hearing after a coalition funded by technology giants decried them, demonstrating their influence in the Capitol. — Sophia Bollag, USA TODAY, "California to vote on sweeping Internet privacy bill," 28 June 2018 During the rally, their focus shifted from decrying Yoder to criticizing Attorney General Jeff Sessions to calling for abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. — Hunter Woodall, kansascity, "Hundreds of supporters of immigrants rally outside Rep. Yoder's Overland Park office," 22 June 2018 The academy strongly opposed the practice of forcibly separating children from their parents when the administration began considering it in 2017, and has released a new statement decrying it. — Oscar J. Benavidez, STAT, "Separating families at the border isn’t just bad policy — it’s horrible for children’s health," 19 June 2018 But nearby residents — both in person Tuesday and in letters to the city — decried it as a disruptive force that has created issues with crime, traffic and parking in the area. — Luke Money, latimes.com, "Costa Mesa council holds off on naming policy for city facilities," 16 May 2018 Several Republican officials have even decried him as a Nazi, which, in 2018, has to be the most overkilled canary in the coal mine. — Ian Graber-stiehl, The Root, "Chi-Town, Check Your Damn Blind Spots; I Have a Lifelong Nazi as GOP Congressional Nominee in My Backyard," 9 Feb. 2018 Both parties are guilty of gerrymandering, and both parties have long decried it. — CBS News, "Drawing the lines on gerrymandering," 14 Jan. 2018 Environmentalists decry the method as overly risky, and regulatory permitting for these projects is a bruising process. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "America's New Energy Coast," 19 Mar. 2019 President Trump quickly decried the Texas shooting. — Anchorage Daily News, "Suspect confesses in Texas high school shooting that left 8 students, 2 teachers dead," 19 May 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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