belittle

[bih-lit-l]

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verb (used with object), be·lit·tled, be·lit·tling.

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

Origin of belittle

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

Related formsbe·lit·tle·ment, nounbe·lit·tler, noun

Synonyms for belittle

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR belittle ON THESAURUS.COM

minimize, decry, deprecate, deride, scorn, dismiss.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for be-little

slam, lessen, reduce, decrease, underestimate, diminish, downplay, curtail, annoy, disgrace, subdue, displease, chagrin, deflate, confound, vex, humiliate, mute, minimize, soft-pedal

Examples from the Web for be-little

Historical Examples of be-little

The Baroness, when she desired to be-little the doctor, always called her a female.
Is He Popenjoy?
Anthony Trollope
In saying these things there is no desire to be-little the reputation of any man; the facts were as here stated.
The Bbur-nma in English
Babur, Emperor of Hindustan

British Dictionary definitions for be-little

belittle

verb (tr)

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

to cause to make small; dwarf

Derived Formsbelittlement, nounbelittler, nounbelittlingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for be-little

belittle

1781, "to make small," from be- + little (v.); first recorded in writings of Thomas Jefferson (and probably coined by him), who was roundly execrated for it in England:

Belittle! What an expression! It may be an elegant one in Virginia, and even perfectly intelligible; but for our part, all we can do is to guess at its meaning. For shame, Mr. Jefferson! ["European Magazine and London Review," 1787, reporting on "Notes on the State of Virginia"; to guess was considered another barbarous Yankeeism.]

Jefferson used it to characterize Buffon's view that American life was stunted by nature, which he was refuting. The figurative sense of "depreciate, scorn as worthless" (as the reviewers did to this word) is from 1797. Related: Belittled; belittling.