decry

decry

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Pronunciation

Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown

The IPA phonetic spelling for "decry" is /dɪˈkraɪ/.

Syllable Breakdown of Sounds:

• First Syllable (de-): /dɪ/

• The sound of 'd' as in dog: /d/

• The sound of 'i' as in in: /ɪ/

• Second Syllable (-cry): /kraɪ/

• The sound of 'k' as in cat: /k/

• The sound of 'r' as in run: /r/

• The vowel sound 'ai' as in ice: /aɪ/ (This is the stressed syllable, marked by ˈ)

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Word Form Variations

The term "decry" is primarily a verb. Its word form variations include:

• Base Verb (Infinitive/Present Tense): decry

• Third Person Singular Present: decries

• Present Participle: decrying

• Past Tense / Past Participle: decried

• Noun Forms (Derived):

• decrier (person who decries)

• decrial (the act of decrying)

• Adjective Form (Derived):

• undecried

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Verb

• Definition 1: To publicly and strongly condemn or denounce something as wrong, blameworthy, or harmful. This usage implies open, often vocal, disapproval and an intent to discredit.

• Synonyms: condemn, denounce, censure, excoriate, rail against, disparage.

• Antonyms: praise, laud, extol, acclaim, commend, eulogize.

• Definition 2 (Less Common/Formal): To officially diminish the value, currency, or quality of something, often by public proclamation (historically, of money or coinage).

• Synonyms: depreciate, undervalue, discredit, belittle, minimize.

• Antonyms: appreciate, overvalue, inflate, promote, enhance.

Noun (Decrial)

• Definition: An open and vigorous condemnation or public expression of strong disapproval.

• Synonyms: denunciation, condemnation, censure, criticism, vilification.

• Antonyms: praise, acclamation, approval, endorsement, applause.

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Examples of Use

📰 Newspapers and Online Publications

• Public Policy/Politics (Past Tense): Democrats decried the far-right shift, calling the proposed leader of the House the head of the chaos wing of the GOP (Arkansas Online, October 2023).

• Social Issues (Present Participle): Spurred in part by high-profile police incidents, protesters have taken to the streets decrying the killings of Black people by police (BostonGlobe.com, June 2020).

• International Affairs (Present Tense): Arab states stay quiet while other nations around the world decry the conditions in Gaza (NBC News, August 2025).

• Media and Ethics (Past Tense): The headline of a recent editorial decried the admission that a major news organization had taken millions from outside groups to publish articles about climate change (National Affairs, Fall 2022).

📖 Books and Academic Discourse

• Literary Analysis: "When critics decry the current state of our public discourse, one reliably easy target is television news. It's too dumbed-down, they say; it's no longer news but entertainment, celebrity-obsessed and vapid." (That's the Way It Is: A History of Television News in America, Charles L. Ponce de Leon).

• Historical Context: More than a century ago, before the Great War and long before Hitler's rise to power, Austrian writer and satirist Karl Kraus... was one of the first media critics, forming his own magazine, The Torch (Die Fackel), mainly to criticize the dominant and later belligerent narratives pushed by his nation’s leading news outlets. In that sense, he was a critic who decried "fake news" a century ago (KU Department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies, May 2020).

🎬 Entertainment Mediums and Platforms

• Art and Controversy: Heretic marks the first time that a film has specifically decried AI use in the film industry, highlighting concerns over its impact on creative professions (Forbes, November 2024).

• Sports/Culture: Coaches, fans, and players have decried the practice of throwing objects onto the field, condemning it as misogynist and dangerous (Rolling Stone, August 2025).

• Fan Culture/Social Media: In response to fans decrying the results of a popular video game, a commentator showed receipts to prove his lack of bias (Rolling Stone, July 2024).

🗣️ General Public Discourse

• Workplace/Economic Issues: The unions have decried the management's new restructuring plan as a direct threat to workers' job security and wages (Quartz India, October 2019).

• Community Activism: Dozens of residents contacted the city council to decry the lack of parking and excessive noise generated by the new late-night market (Los Angeles Times, July 2021).

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10 Famous Quotes Using Decry

1. "Nothing so dates a man as to decry the younger generation." (Adlai E. Stevenson, Speech at the University of Wisconsin, October 1952)

2. "We all decry prejudice, yet are all prejudiced." (Herbert Spencer)

3. "The point is, we can decry the dangers we face, but that is not the same as being paralyzed by fear." (Benjamin Carson)

4. "I am not one of those who decry Eton and Harrow." (Ernest Bevin)

5. "The simple system of rural economy is entirely based upon the dealings of this man, whom it is the fashion sometimes to decry as a usurer, but who is really the one thrifty person among an improvident population." (Alfred Russel Wallace)

6. "We decry violence all the time in this country, but look at our history." (James Lee Burke)

7. "Why do you decry the world we live in? There are good people in it." (Agatha Christie, Destination Unknown)

8. "There is plenty—sometimes too much—decrying from the pulpit of social problems, crime, fraudulent practices, injustices, dangers of alcoholic indulgences and the like." (Herman Hoeksema)

9. "Contemptuous of the voting public, our politicians are largely responsible for creating the cynicism that they now decry." (Source: The Journal of Public Affairs)

10. "People who decry the fact that businesses are in business to make a profit have to be reminded that the only way you can do that is by selling to customers what they want." (Thomas Sowell)

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Etymology

The word "decry" has a straightforward history rooted in French, and its origin directly relates to its meaning of speaking out loudly against something.

• Original Source Language: The word came into English from the Old French term descrier.

• Original French Meaning: In Old French, $descrier$ literally meant "to cry out," "to proclaim," or "to announce."

• Shift in Meaning (The Key): The meaning evolved, specifically becoming associated with publicly proclaiming or announcing a negative judgment—like officially "crying down" the value of something.

• This is evident in one of its earliest and most formal uses: the official condemnation and depreciation of currency or coinage (like a king announcing an old coin was no longer valid or had less value).

• Entry into English: The word was borrowed into English in the early 17th century (specifically documented around 1614).

• First Known English Meaning: Its first major use in English was to signify the act of officially or publicly depreciating something, such as a coin, and shortly thereafter, the sense of expressing strong disapproval or denouncing something as worthless or faulty.

In essence, to decry something is to give it a "down-cry"—to shout against it, publicly reducing its worth or status.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Decry

"Decry" is a formal verb that is typically used directly in sentences rather than forming part of fixed idioms or common figurative phrases. Therefore, the list below includes common verbal collocations (phrases where "decry" is often found) and several original phrases using the word's primary meaning.

🗣️ Phrases and Collocations Using "Decry"

1. Decry the lack of...: To publicly complain about a shortage or absence of something. (e.g., They decry the lack of transparency in the government process.)

2. Decry the injustice: To publicly and vehemently condemn an unfair act or treatment.

3. Decry the waste of...: To speak out strongly against the misuse of resources, money, or time.

4. Decry all forms of discrimination: To condemn every type of prejudice or unfair treatment.

5. Decry the current state of affairs: To voice strong disapproval regarding the contemporary situation or condition.

6. Decry the sensationalism: To condemn the use of exciting or shocking stories/language at the expense of accuracy.

7. Decry the move: To openly criticize a recent action or change made by a person or organization.

8. Decry the policy as reckless: To publicly state that a rule or plan is irresponsible and dangerous.

9. A chorus of voices decry...: A phrase describing many people simultaneously condemning something.

10. To loudly decry: A common, slightly redundant phrase emphasizing the vocal and forceful nature of the condemnation.

📢 Idioms with Synonyms (For Similar Effect)

Since decry itself is not idiomatic, these common idioms use synonyms like condemn or denounce to convey a similar effect of strong disapproval:

1. Call out (someone or something): To draw public attention to a person's unacceptable behavior or an issue.

2. Read the riot act (to someone): To issue a strong warning or sternly denounce improper behavior.

3. Take a shot at (someone/something): To criticize or attack, often sharply.

4. Give a tongue-lashing (to someone): To verbally criticize or reprimand severely.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of decry from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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