crying
- 01 C1 Advanced
used to describe a problem that is so bad it needs immediate attention.
describing a situation that demands immediate attention or action due to its urgent or deplorable nature. Usually precedes the noun.
Simple“The lack of clean water in the village is a crying shame.”
In context“The report highlighted a crying need for reform in the healthcare system to address the rising costs of emergency treatment.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
very bad and deserving of strong criticism.
deserving of strong rebuke or censure; used to emphasize how deplorable a situation is.
Simple“It is a crying injustice that the innocent man was kept in prison for so long.”
In context“The historian described the destruction of the ancient library as a crying act of cultural vandalism that could never be undone.”
SynonymsAntonymsadmirablepraiseworthy
From cry + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.