decry
5 dictionary results for: decry
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
de·cry 
[di-krahy] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
[di-krahy] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object), -cried, -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. |
—Related forms
de·cri·er, noun
—Synonyms 1. belittle, disparage, discredit, depreciate, minimize. 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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| de·cry
(dĭ-krī') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. de·cried, de·cry·ing, de·cries
[French décrier, from Old French descrier : des-, de- + crier, to cry; see cry.] de·cri'er n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to think, write, or speak of as being of little value or importance. Decry implies open denunciation or condemnation: A staunch materialist, he decries economy. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
decry
decry
1617, from Fr. decrier, from O.Fr. descrier "cry out, announce," from de- "down, out" + crier "to cry." In Eng., the sense has been colored by the presumption that de- in this word means "down."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| decry | |
verb | |
| express strong disapproval of; "We condemn the racism in South Africa"; "These ideas were reprobated" [syn: condemn] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Decry
De*cry"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decried; p. pr. & vb. n. Decrying.] [F. d['e]crier, OF. descrier; pref. des- (L. dis-) + crier to cry. See Cry, and cf. Descry.] To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to clamor against; to blame clamorously; to discredit; to disparage. For small errors they whole plays decry. --Dryden. Measures which are extolled by one half of the kingdom are naturally decried by the other. --Addison. Syn: To Decry, Depreciate, Detract, Disparage. Usage: Decry and depreciate refer to the estimation of a thing, the former seeking to lower its value by clamorous censure, the latter by representing it as of little worth. Detract and disparage also refer to merit or value, which the former assails with caviling, insinuation, etc., while the latter willfully underrates and seeks to degrade it. Men decry their rivals and depreciate their measures. The envious detract from the merit of a good action, and disparage the motives of him who performs it.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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