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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for belittle

criticize, decry, squelch, discredit, deride, scorn, downplay, disparage, underestimate, blister, derogate, lower, deprecate, knock, minimize, smear, undervalue, squash, rip, discount

Examples from the Web for belittle

Contemporary Examples of belittle

And he is probably right to belittle the current round of talks.
Partition Skepticism and the Future of the Peace Process
Avner Inbar, Assaf Sharon
September 25, 2013
Hand it off to a hen-pecked husband or a put-upon assistant and it can demean or belittle.
The Language of Margaret Thatcher’s Handbags
Robin Givhan
April 8, 2013
Yet, Western intelligence tends to belittle them as a bunch of bluffers.
Leslie H. Gelb on Obama’s Dangerous Nuclear Dance
Leslie H. Gelb
April 7, 2013
The Fox News host seemed to belittle Laura Ingraham during an on-air clash about same-sex marriage.
Bill O’Reilly’s Macho Moment in On-Air Confrontation With Laura Ingraham
Lauren Ashburn
April 5, 2013
This is not a time to complain about or belittle this shift, or, as with Kotkin, to pretend that it is not even taking place.
Did I Abandon My Creative Class Theory? Not So Fast, Joel Kotkin
Richard Florida
March 21, 2013

Historical Examples of belittle

Now, far be it from us to belittle the splendor of this scientific vision.
Understanding the Scriptures
Francis McConnell
Rather it was the city person's point of view he was inclined to belittle.
Dust
Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
"It is the money-grabbers of the world who belittle empire," Duncan answered.
The Avenger
E. Phillips Oppenheim
Even since the war, the English have tried to belittle the Irish.
Changing Winds
St. John G. Ervine
Why, words would only belittle this part of our “performance.”
Adventures and Recollections
Bill o'th' Hoylus End

British Dictionary definitions for belittle

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 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.