decry

Meaning

1. To denounce as harmful.
2. To blame for ills.

Synonyms

disparage

denounce

belittle

depreciate

condemn

blame

run down

censure

criticize

defame

excoriate

malign

cry down

speak slightingly of

ridicule

traduce

deprecate

vilify

speak disparagingly of

denigrate

reprobate

badmouth

objurgate

calumniate

speak against

derogation

devalue

disapprove

discredit

animadvert

exclude

harsh on

fulminate

gossip

impeach

impute

inculpate

libel

cast aspersions upon

miscall

mock

pan

pooh-pooh

reject

reproach

reprove

revile

accuse

scarify

score

scorn

slander

slur

tear apart

upbraid

bespatter

black

blacken

blast

cast aside

carp

cast away

cast off

charge

chide

backbite

crab

🦀

speak evil of

asperse

arraign

deride

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪˈkɹaɪ/

Etymology

C. 1600, from Middle French decrier (“to denigrate; depreciate”), from Old French descrier (“to shout”) (modern décrier). Doublet of descry. The pejorative meaning had not been present in the Middle English loan, but it was present in the French word from at least the 13th century, with a meaning of "to denigrate; depreciate; to announce the depreciation or suppression of a currency", presumably from the interpretation of de- as meaning "down, inferior".