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Webster 1913 Edition
Decry
De-cry′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Decried
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decrying
.] 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.
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 1828 Edition
Decry
DECRY
,Verb.
T.
1.
To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean or worthless; to clamor against; to discredit by finding fault; as, to decry a poem.2.
To cry down, as improper or unnecessary; to rail or clamor against; to bring into desrepute; as, to decry the measures of administration.Definition 2024
decry
decry
English
Verb
decry (third-person singular simple present decries, present participle decrying, simple past and past participle decried)
- (transitive) To denounce as harmful.
- 1970, Alvin Toffler, Future Shock, Bantam Books, pg. 99:
- All of us seem to need some totalistic relationships in our lives. But to decry the fact that we cannot have only such relationships is nonsense.
- 1970, Alvin Toffler, Future Shock, Bantam Books, pg. 474:
- While decrying bureaucracy and demanding participatory democracy they, themselves, frequently attempt to manipulate the very group of workers, blacks or students on whose behalf they demand participation.
- 1970, Alvin Toffler, Future Shock, Bantam Books, pg. 99:
- (transitive) To blame for ills.
Translations
to denounce as harmful
References
- Chambers's Etymological Dictionary, 1896, p. 114
- decry in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- decry in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- decry at OneLook Dictionary Search