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GRE vocabulary

decry

verbHigh-frequency wordMore D words

to condemn or denounce openly

Word origin: From Old French descrier, to cry out against.

In a sentence

Decry in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing decry in a sentence.

Activists decried the new policy as an attack on civil liberties.

Economists across the spectrum decried the tariffs as a needless drag on growth.

Synonyms
denouncecondemncensure
Antonyms
praiseextolcommend
Usage & nuance

Using “decry” well

Decry means to condemn openly and publicly, pairing with denounce and censure. Note the homophone descry, an unrelated word meaning to catch sight of, a frequent spelling confusion.

Keep going

More GRE words starting with D

dabble

to engage in something superficially or as a casual pastime

dais

a raised platform for speakers or honored guests

dally

to waste time or act without urgency

dampen

to make something slightly wet, or to make a feeling or reaction less strong

dappled

marked with spots or patches of color or light

daunt

to intimidate or discourage with fear or doubt

dawdle

to move slowly or waste time idly

dearth

a scarcity or shortage of something

Common questions

Questions about “decry”

Decry (verb) means to condemn or denounce openly
Here is decry used in an example sentence: "Activists decried the new policy as an attack on civil liberties." Another example: "Economists across the spectrum decried the tariffs as a needless drag on growth."
Common synonyms for decry include denounce, condemn, censure.
Antonyms of decry include praise, extol, commend.
Clusters with denounce, condemn, and censure in Sentence Equivalence. Antonyms praise, extol, and commend describe public approval.
Yes. Decry is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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