belittle

American  

[bih-lit-l] / bɪˈlɪt l /

verb (used with object)

belittled, belittling

1. to regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate; depreciate; disparage.

   Synonyms:

   dismiss, scorn, deride, deprecate, decry, minimize

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belittle British  

/ bɪˈlɪtəl /

verb

1. to consider or speak of (something) as less valuable or important than it really is; disparage

2. to cause to make small; dwarf

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Other Word Forms

• belittlement
  noun
• belittler
  noun
• belittlingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of belittle

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; be- + little

Explanation

To belittle means to put down, or to make another person feel as though they aren't important. Saying mean things about another person literally makes them feel "little." To belittle someone is a cruel way of making someone else seem less important than yourself. A candidate for office might belittle his opponent by pointing out during a press conference that his fellow candidate has an inferior intellect. Belittling doesn't have to come in the form of verbal abuse. A manager who forces his administrative assistant to scrub his office floor with a toothbrush belittles her as well.

Example Sentences

Belittle is a tiny word with big reach.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 5, 2025

Get her a copy of Codependent No More by Melody Belittle and ask her to read it and discuss it with you.

From Slate • Aug. 16, 2021

Belittle your ex: That line of clothing at Macy’s?

From Washington Post • Jul. 1, 2015

Sir: Belittle him as you will, he is the only American today who dares to articulate what most of us are thinking.

From Time Magazine Archive

Belittle, be-lit′l, v.t. to make small: to cause to appear small, to depreciate or disparage.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Related Words

• criticize
• decry
• deride
• discredit
• disparage
• downplay
• scorn
• underestimate