De-cry', v. t.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DECRIED; p. pr. & vb. n. DECRYING.] [Fr. décrier, It. sgridare. See CRY.] To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to clamor against; to discredit; to bring into disrepute; to disparage.

For small errors they whole plays decry. Dryden.

Measures which are extolled by one half of the kingdom are naturally decried by the other. Addison.

Synonyms—To DECRY, DEPRECIATE, DETRACT, DISPARAGE. Decry and depreciate refer to the estimation in which a thing is held, the former seeking to cry it down, and the latter to run it down in the opinion of others. Detract and disparage refer to merit or value, which the former assails with caviling, &c., 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.