decry
/dɪˈkrʌɪ
/verb (decries, decrying, decried) [with object]
Publicly denounce: they decried human rights abuses...
- Then she's at a public hearing, decrying the woman who dared to take her husband to task for sexually abusing their daughters.
- He decried it as an attack on the international working class, and encouraged all workers to refuse to go.
- Then they will decry human rights abuses in other countries.
Synonyms
denounce, condemn, criticize, censure, damn, attack, fulminate against, rail against, inveigh against, blame, carp at, cavil at, run down, pillory, rap, lambaste, deplore, disapprove of, vilify, execrate, revile;
disparage, deprecate, discredit, derogate, cast aspersions on
informal slam, slate, blast, knock, snipe at, do a hatchet job on, hold forth against, come down on, pull to pieces, tear to shreds
formal excoriate, animadvert
rare asperse
Derivatives
decrier
- These theological doubters and decriers had questioned John the Baptist about the validity of his mission.
- Sadly, I now have more sympathy for the average embattled professional than his or her decrier.
- The decriers of greed, privilege, and degeneracy and champions of economic equality are forcefully rebutted in turn.
Origin
Early 17th century (in the sense 'decrease the value of coins by royal proclamation'): from de- 'down' + cry, on the pattern of French décrier 'cry down'.
cry from Middle English:
The word cry is first recorded with the meanings ‘ask for earnestly’, ‘ask for loudly’. It comes via French from Latin quiritare ‘raise a public outcry’, literally ‘call on the Quirites (Roman citizens) for help’. Early examples of cry centre around sound—sometimes in sorrow or distress. The association with tears is recorded from around the mid 16th century. Decry (early 17th century) originally had the sense ‘decrease the value of coins by royal proclamation’.