belittle

verb

be·​lit·​tle bi-ˈli-tᵊl 

bē-

belittled; belittling bi-ˈli-tᵊl-iŋ 

-ˈlit-liŋ,

bē-

transitive verb

1

: to speak slightingly of : disparage

belittles her efforts

2

: to cause (a person or thing) to seem little or less

a curiosity so vast that it almost belittled the main matter

—Mark Twain

belittlement

bi-ˈli-tᵊl-mənt 

bē-

noun

belittler

bi-ˈli-tᵊl-ər 

-ˈlit-lər

bē-

noun

Synonyms

• bad-mouth
• cry down
• decry
• denigrate
• deprecate
• depreciate
• derogate
• diminish
• dis [slang]
• diss
• discount
• dismiss
• disparage
• kiss off
• minimize
• play down
• poor-mouth
• put down
• run down
• talk down
• trash
• trash-talk
• vilipend
• write off

Choose the Right Synonym for belittle

decry, depreciate, disparage, belittle mean to express a low opinion of.

decry implies open condemnation with intent to discredit.

decried their defeatist attitude

depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed.

critics depreciate his plays for being unabashedly sentimental

disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison.

disparaged polo as a game for the rich

belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude.

belittled the achievements of others

Examples of belittle in a Sentence

The critic belittled the author's work.

Her detractors are in the habit of belittling her accomplishments.

Recent Examples on the Web

Listen to this article Over the years, this mild-mannered reporter has been called many nasty names and belittled by many unflattering adjectives. —Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 18 June 2024

The name itself is belittling, implying Carroll Countians are so dimwitted and backward, the opinions its citizens hold could only have taken root here. —Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2024

Some of its most extreme representatives have also belittled the Holocaust, saying that Germany has paid enough penance for the sins of an older generation. —Toby Axelrod, Sun Sentinel, 13 June 2024

This is not to belittle the remarkable feats that can be performed by computers. —John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

belittle

verb

be·​lit·​tle bi-ˈlit-ᵊl 

belittled; belittling -ˈlit-ᵊl-iŋ 

-ˈlit-liŋ

: to make (a person or a thing) seem little or unimportant

belittle the success of a rival

belittlement

-ᵊl-mənt 

noun

belittler

-ˈlit-ᵊl-ər 

-ˈlit-lər

noun