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

By 1938, millions of Americans listened weekly as Father Charles Coughlin, a Catholic demagogue, celebrated the rise of fascism and decried the existence of the Jews. — Fred Turner, Harper's magazine, "Machine Politics," 10 Jan. 2019 Last month Matt Hancock launched his own leadership campaign with an attack on Mr Johnson for dismissing businesses’ concerns about Brexit, while decrying no-deal as not credible. — The Economist, "The Boris bubble that threatens Britain’s Conservatives," 20 June 2019 Some of the cat’s most comically absurd escapades are entirely consistent with the look-and-say method, minus the terrible literalness that Hersey decried. — I-huei Go, The New Yorker, "How Dr. Seuss Changed Education in America," 5 June 2019 There was a time when natives and art critics decried the sameness and pedestrian nature of seascapes and boats, boats, boats. — James R. Carroll, USA TODAY, "Cape Ann, Massachusetts: A charming alternative to Cape Cod with sandy beaches and fried clams," 3 June 2019 Hundreds of people who oppose vaccination requirements rallied Tuesday at the State Capitol, decrying a bill that would eliminate an exemption to the rules based on a family’s religious beliefs. — Jimmy Vielkind And Melanie Grayce West, WSJ, "New York Bill to Close Vaccination Loophole Stalls in State Assembly," 14 May 2019 Toyota’s president, Akio Toyoda, is a race driver who’s publicly decried boring cars. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "With the 2020 GR Supra, Toyota Gets In Touch With Its Fun Side," 12 May 2019 Texas Forever spent its funds helping Cruz’s opponent, Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Tex.), a proponent of campaign finance reform who decries the influence of money in politics. — James Freeman, WSJ, "Too Soon for Democrats To Dump Elizabeth Warren?," 7 Dec. 2018 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

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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