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cri de coeur

American  
[kreeduh-kœr, kree duh kur] / kridəˈkœr, ˈkri də ˈkɜr /

noun

French.

plural

cris de coeur
  1. an anguished cry of distress or indignation; outcry.


cri de coeur British  
/ ˌkriː də ˈkɜː /

noun

  1. a cry from the heart; heartfelt or sincere appeal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cri de coeur

First recorded in 1895–1900; literally, “cry of (the) heart”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The book was a cri de coeur, a call for parents to wrest back their authority and responsibilities from schools and other public institutions, and arrest the state of “perpetual adolescence” in which many American young adults find themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal

This was not just a cri de coeur against ICE.

From Slate

A cri de coeur then, from beyond the grave.

From Los Angeles Times

Supreme Court as a kind of cri de coeur, asking, Can we please talk about the death penalty?

From Slate

Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke to this absurdity when she responded in what could only be heard as a cri de coeur: “Stable democratic society needs good faith of public officials,” she said.

From Slate