outcry

noun

out·​cry ˈau̇t-ˌkrī 

1

a

: a loud cry : clamor

b

: a vehement protest

There was a public outcry over his comments.

2

: auction

Synonyms of outcry

• roar
• noise
• howl

Examples of outcry in a Sentence

They were surprised by the outcry against the casino proposal.

There was a lot of public outcry over his racial comments.

Recent Examples on the Web

When the actress’ hiring was announced, there was an outcry over allegations of colorism due to Stenberg’s mixed-race status and lighter skin tone. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026

Moderna went public, and the ensuing outcry forced the FDA to reverse course. — Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Caitlin Clark will also make her first appearance at a World Cup; in 2024, a public outcry ensued after the popular Clark – then a WNBA rookie – was left off the Olympic team. — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026

Fifteen days later, after one meeting and a public outcry, the FDA reversed itself, agreed to review the file, and set the decision date for Wednesday. — Jeff Coller, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for outcry

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

outcry

noun

out·​cry ˈau̇t-ˌkrī 

1

: a loud cry : clamor

2

: a strong protest