/ dɪˈkraɪ; NAmE / verb
( de·cries , de·cry·ing , de·cried , de·cried ) [ vn ] decry sb/sth (as sth) ( formal ) to strongly criticize sb/sth, especially publicly
SYN condemn :
The measures were decried as useless.
[also vn ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (in the sense decrease the value of coins by royal proclamation ): from de- down + cry , on the pattern of French décrier cry down.