Decry

Decry
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. [1913 Webster]

For small errors they whole plays decry. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • decry — decry, depreciate, disparage, derogate, detract, belittle, minimize mean to write, speak, or otherwise indicate one s feeling in regard to something in such a way as to reveal one s low opinion of it. Decry implies open or public condemnation or… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • decry — decry, descry are related in origin but now have widely different meanings. To decry something is to disparage or deplore it • (She decries the spread of tower blocks and the failure to turn derelict sites into green spaces Evening Standard,… …   Modern English usage

  • decry — [dē krī′] vt. decried, decrying [Fr décrier < OFr descrier: see DE & CRY] 1. to speak out against strongly and openly; denounce [to decry religious intolerance] 2. to depreciate (money, etc.) officially SYN. DISPARAGE decrial …   English World dictionary

  • decry — I verb admonish, be unable to respect, belittle, berate, bring discredit on, bring into disrepute, censure, censure as faulty, clamor against, condemn, condemn as worthless, contemn, criticize, cry down, cry out against, declaim against, degrade …   Law dictionary

  • decry — 1610s, from Fr. decrier (14c.; O.Fr. descrier cry out, announce ), from de down, out (see DE (Cf. de )) + crier to cry. In English, the sense has been colored by the presumption that de in this word means down …   Etymology dictionary

  • decry — [v] criticize, blame abuse, asperse, badmouth*, belittle, calumniate, censure, condemn, cry down, defame, denounce, depreciate, derogate, detract, devalue, diminish, discount, discredit, disgrace, disparage, do a number on*, downgrade, dump on*,… …   New thesaurus

  • decry — ► VERB (decries, decried) ▪ publicly denounce. DERIVATIVES decrier noun. ORIGIN originally in the sense «decrease the value of coins by royal proclamation»: from French décrier cry down …   English terms dictionary

  • decry — transitive verb Etymology: French décrier, from Old French decrier, from de + crier to cry Date: 1614 1. to depreciate (as a coin) officially or publicly 2. to express strong disapproval of < decry the …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • decry — decrier, n. /di kruy /, v.t., 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. 2. to condemn or depreciate by proclamation, as… …   Universalium

  • decry — de•cry [[t]dɪˈkraɪ[/t]] v. t. cried, cry•ing 1) to disparage openly 2) to depreciate by proclamation, as coins • Etymology: 1610–20; < F décrier, de•cri′al, n. de•cri′er, n. syn: decry, denigrate, deprecate involve the expression of censure or …   From formal English to slang

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