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

Late Monday afternoon, the four members of Congress held a news conference, decrying Trump's remarks as a vile distraction. — Niraj Warikoo And Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, "Minorities and Republicans criticize Donald Trump for attacks on House Reps.," 15 July 2019 The hit show also picked up best direction of a musical for Rachel Chavkin, who decried the lack of female and minority theater directors, and best featured actor in a musical to Broadway veteran Andre DeShields. — Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, "‘Hadestown’ dominates Tony Awards," 9 June 2019 Media outlets around the country, and around the world, decried his role in inspiring a shooter who gunned down 20 people. — Alan Gomez, USA TODAY, "'One of the lowest points in American history': El Paso struggles to recover from mass shooting," 5 Aug. 2019 In today’s Harlem, where some point with pride to a second renaissance, others decry the gentrification that’s displacing residents and demolishing history. — Elizabeth Chang, Twin Cities, "Harlem’s 125th Street is the gateway to new corners of Manhattan," 3 Aug. 2019 Some open source advocates decry the trend toward more restrictive licenses. — Klint Finley, WIRED, "When Open Source Software Comes With a Few Catches," 31 July 2019 Animal activists are decrying the public slaughter. — NBC News, "Escaped calf killed behind Connecticut Home Depot sparks outrage," 30 July 2019 Animal activists are decrying the public slaughter. — Washington Post, "Escaped calf killed behind Home Depot sparks outrage," 30 July 2019 Lepore decries the rise of Vladimir Putin in Russia, Viktor Orban in Hungary and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, among others, as well as the Brexit vote in Britain — all signs of a nationalist resurgence. — Carlos Lozada, Houston Chronicle, "Are we telling the right story of America?," 6 July 2019

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.

Learn More about decry