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decry

[dih-krahy]
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verb (used with object), de·cried, de·cry·ing.
  1. to speak disparagingly of; denounce as faulty or worthless; express censure of: She decried the lack of support for the arts in this country.
  2. to condemn or depreciate by proclamation, as foreign or obsolete coins.
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Origin of decry

1610–20; < French décrier, Old French descrier. See dis-1, cry
Related formsde·cri·er, nounun·de·cried, adjective
Can be confuseddecry descry

Synonyms

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1. belittle, disparage, discredit, depreciate, minimize.

Synonym study

1. Decry, denigrate, deprecate, derogate all involve the expression of censure or disapproval. Decry means to express one's vigorous disapproval of or to denounce: to decry all forms of discrimination. Denigrate means to speak damagingly of, to criticize in derogative terms: denigrating his works as trifling and poorly executed. Deprecate implies the expression of earnest, thoughtful disapproval: to deprecate a plan because of possible environmental damage. Derogate means to speak in such a way as to decrease the status, high quality, or good reputation of someone or something, making the person or object seem of less value: Fear of change makes them derogate every proposal put forth.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for decries

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • It is by arguing from its abuse, that he decries this enchanting talent.

  • The women extol and Salam decries the goods on offer; both praise Allah.

    Morocco

    S.L. Bensusan

  • And who ever read Thackeray without feeling the greatest longing to see the world which he decries?

    Rutledge

    Miriam Coles Harris

  • In doing so he belies his own nature, decries his countrymen, and disparages his religion.

  • Countess, here is the man who counts all equal under the sun, who decries class, and recognises no social distinctions.

    The Yellow Crayon

    E. Phillips Oppenheim

British Dictionary definitions for decries

decry

verb -cries, -crying or -cried (tr)
  1. to express open disapproval of; disparage
  2. to depreciate by proclamationto decry obsolete coinage
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Derived Formsdecrial, noundecrier, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Old French descrier, from des- dis - 1 + crier to cry
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

Word Origin and History for decries

decry

v.

1610s, from French decrier (14c.; Old French descrier "cry out, announce"), from de- "down, out" (see de-) + crier "to cry," from Latin quiritare (see cry (v.)). In English, the sense has been colored by the presumption that de- in this word means "down."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper