depreciatory

Also de·pre·ci·a·tive

[dih-pree-shee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -pree-shuh-]

adjective

1. tending to depreciate.

Other Word Forms

• depreciatively adverb
• nondepreciative adjective
• nondepreciatively adverb
• nondepreciatory adjective
• undepreciative adjective
• undepreciatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of depreciatory¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; depreciate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

Any depreciatory anecdotes would be very telling, and serve to evoke indignant free replies from those who wouldn't guess they were jumping to a prepared bait.

From Project Gutenberg

To make little or less in a moral sense; to speak of in a depreciatory or contemptuous way.

From Project Gutenberg

He limped along a pace or so behind, making depreciatory noises in response to these flattering remarks and taking stock of the very appreciative person who uttered them.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps political party is more universal than any other bad influence without, in misguiding Englishmen into ill-natured, or contemptuous, or depreciatory judgments of their neighbours and fellow-townsmen.

From Project Gutenberg

His adjective "little" was not depreciatory; Malachi Hill was, in fact, short.

From Project Gutenberg