decry

[dih-krahy]

verb (used with object)

decried, decrying 

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.

   Synonyms: minimize, depreciate, discredit, disparage, belittle

2. to condemn or depreciate by proclamation, as foreign or obsolete coins.

decry

/ dɪˈkraɪ /

verb

1. to express open disapproval of; disparage

2. to depreciate by proclamation

   to decry obsolete coinage

Other Word Forms

• decrier noun
• decrial noun
• undecried adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of decry¹

1610–20; < French décrier, Old French descrier. See dis- ¹, cry

Word History and Origins

Origin of decry¹

C17: from Old French descrier, from des- _dis - ¹ + crier to _cry

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

A separate public comment submitted Tuesday by the Union of Concerned Scientists — a nonprofit representing more than 21,000 scientists — decried the department’s report as “deeply flawed” and rife with “anti-science content.”

From Los Angeles Times

The letter decried the congressional map previously passed by the state’s Republican-led Legislature as “unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.”

From Salon

The group cosponsored a 2023 gospel Mass at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove and marched in a procession a few weeks ago that decried the immigration raids terrorizing large swaths of Catholic Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a vicious cycle of events: Republicans break things, Democrats spend years fixing them — and then the GOP takes credit for the positive outcome, all while decrying “big government” and “social engineering.”

From Salon

It also decries the government’s freezing of $584 million in research grant funding.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• belittle 
• condemn 
• denounce 
• minimize