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to decry

to decry

31 7.7
To say in public that something is bad or wrong
  • verb
  • /dɪˈkraɪ/
  • Formal
translation icon : censurar
  • In fact, some advocates decry such programs as a form of slavery.
  • loudly decry
  • often decry
  • decry the lack

So a lot of people are kind of decrying the commodification of the Trail Ultra World.

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Examples

  • Saudi Arabia and Bahrain decry Iranian expansionism and fear Tehran's interference in their internal affairs.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Both Congress and the national press decried Jessup's tactics.

  • Since Dewey's time, education leaders have continued to decry the need for a more actively engaged, thinking student body.

    Academic text (2015)
  • In light of the scandal, scientists decry the experiment as a farce, and the project is ultimately shut down.

  • Although U.S. business leaders lauded the decision, human rights groups decried the Clinton administration for succumbing to economic pressure.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Historians justifiably decry the ethnocentrism of colonial and other forms of assimilative education.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Traditionalists decried the woman cyclist, who no longer had a chaperone to protect her from a stranger's advances.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Indeed, Orwell was Fanon's counterpart, decrying privilege and tyranny from the top half of the ladder.

    Academic text (1994)
  • During political campaigns, candidates routinely decry the influence of big money on politics.

  • In light of the scandal, scientists decry the experiment as a farce, leading to its shutdown.

Synonyms

to criticize
vsto decry
701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

is public strong disapproval that stresses clear condemnation
to condemn
vsto decry
298 4.0

To strongly criticize someone or something publicly

is public disapproval but can be less moral or formal in tone
to denounce
vsto decry
  • Formal
115 6.8

Publicly criticize someone or something strongly

expresses public disapproval that may be less formal or institutional
to blast
vsto decry
  • Literature
61 5.3

To strongly criticize someone in public

expresses strong public disapproval without necessarily being harshly abusive
44 4.1

Publicly say you are strongly against something or someone

is the same public strong disapproval but more broadly phrased
to protest against
vsto decry
40 3.6

To show in public that you strongly disagree with something

is general public disapproval rather than organized objection action
to reprimand
vsto decry
  • Formal
33 6.1

To tell someone they did something wrong, usually by a person in charge

is public disapproval that is not necessarily an authority's formal action
to censure
vsto decry
  • Formal
26 7.7

To express strong disapproval of someone, often in an official statement

is public disapproval used more generally, not only in formal declarations
to speak against
vsto decry
15 4.2

To say in public that you do not support something

covers public disapproval in general rather than focused opposition
to lambast
vsto decry
12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

means public disapproval but not necessarily an angry reprimand
to excoriate
vsto decry
  • Literature
9 9.8

To criticize someone or something very harshly in public

expresses public disapproval but less extreme and violent in tone
to pillory
vsto decry
7 9.3

To criticize someone publicly to make them feel ashamed

is public disapproval that may not involve exposing to scorn
to inveigh
vsto decry
  • Formal
2 9.9

To speak or write strongly against something

is public disapproval that is not always bitter or hostile
to deprecate
vsto decry
  • Formal
1 7.6

Criticize someone or something, often in public

is public disapproval that emphasizes strong or public expression
to lambaste
vsto decry
1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

is public strong disapproval without the added anger or severity
to hit out at
vsto decry
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

expresses public disapproval more generally rather than a direct attack
to fulminate against
vsto decry
  • Formal
1 9.9

Angrily criticize someone or something

says public disapproval but without the strongly angry delivery
to objurgate
vsto decry
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong

targets public disapproval of actions or ideas rather than direct scolding
to reprobate
vsto decry
  • Literature
9.4

To say strongly that someone or something is wrong

is public disapproval that may be less formal or legalistic
to animadvert
vsto decry
  • Archaic
9.9

To criticize someone or something sharply in public

is public disapproval that can be informal as well as formal
to pillorize
vsto decry
  • US
9.9

To say bad things about someone in public to make them feel ashamed

is public disapproval that does not necessarily aim to humiliate

Antonyms

331 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

183 4.2

To publicly show support for a person or idea

How Critical

to vilify
43 7.9
to denounce
  • Formal
115 6.8
to decry
  • Formal
31 7.7
to criticize
701 3.3
to note
951 1.6

Surface Forms

decry infinitive
decrying present participle
decries third person singular
decried past
decried past participle

Morphology

decry = cry (semi-transparent) = de + cry

The form 'de-' + 'cry' can be interpreted as 'cry against' and is analyzable, but the specific sense 'publicly denounce' is not a direct, fully predictable meaning for all learners.

Etymology

Decry comes from old parts de- meaning 'down' or 'away' and cry meaning 'to shout', so it originally meant to 'cry down' something. That's why to decry today is to publicly shout against or strongly criticize someone or something.