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decry

verb
de·​cry | \ di-ˈkrī How to pronounce decry (audio) , dē-\
decried; decrying

Definition of decry

transitive verb

1 : to depreciate (something, such as a coin) officially or publicly the king may at any time decry … any coin of the kingdom— William Blackstone
2 : to express strong disapproval of decry the emphasis on sex … has decried the medical marijuana ballot initiative as being rife with loopholes.— Dan Sweeney
Other Words from decry Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about decry

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Other Words from decry

decrier \ di-​ˈkrī(-​ə)r How to pronounce decrier (audio) , dē-​ \ noun

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

 Now Environmental groups have decried the move, and even powerful oil and gas companies including Shell have previously urged the Trump Administration to not rollback regulations. — Madeleine Carlisle, Time, "The Trump Administration Just Loosened Methane Emissions Rules. Here's What To Know," 31 Aug. 2019 Democrats have also decried the state's voter ID law and the botched attempt by former secretary of state David Whitley to challenge the citizenship of thousands of Texas voters. — Gromer Jeffers Jr., Dallas News, "Democrats say anti-Hispanic tone set by Trump, Texas lawmakers creates 'toxic environment'," 5 Aug. 2019 Attorneys, activists and faith leaders have decried the fines. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Immigrants taking sanctuary in churches hit with huge fines," 30 July 2019 Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council has decried the legislation, however, threatening to post a travel advisory for Hong Kong if the bill becomes law. — John Bacon, USA TODAY, "Hong Kong leader's apology is 'fake,' more protests are coming, foes say," 18 June 2019 Republicans, however, have decried the need for new taxes, and called for lawmakers to find ways to fund everything with existing tax revenue. — Joseph O’sullivan, The Seattle Times, "Washington Senate lawmakers propose a budget with a different idea for a capital-gains tax," 29 Mar. 2019 Immigration advocates have decried the policy and promised to fight it. — Alicia A. Caldwell, WSJ, "U.S. to Start Returning Some Asylum Seekers to Mexico," 24 Jan. 2019 Conservatives have hyperbolically decried every new advance of the welfare state — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare — as an existential threat to liberty and capitalism. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Handed the Agenda to Conservatives and They Blew It," 30 Apr. 2018 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

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.

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First Known Use of decry

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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.

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More Definitions for decry

decry

verb
How to pronounce decry (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of decry

formal : to say publicly and forcefully that you regard (something) as bad, wrong, etc.

See the full definition for decry in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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