belittle
[bih-lit-l]
- to regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate; depreciate; disparage.
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Origin of belittle
Synonyms
See more synonyms for belittle on Thesaurus.comminimize, decry, deprecate, deride, scorn, dismiss.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for belittle
Contemporary Examples
And he is probably right to belittle the current round of talks.
Hand it off to a hen-pecked husband or a put-upon assistant and it can demean or belittle.
Yet, Western intelligence tends to belittle them as a bunch of bluffers.
The Fox News host seemed to belittle Laura Ingraham during an on-air clash about same-sex marriage.
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.
Historical Examples
Now, far be it from us to belittle the splendor of this scientific vision.
Understanding the ScripturesFrancis McConnell
Rather it was the city person's point of view he was inclined to belittle.
DustMr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
"It is the money-grabbers of the world who belittle empire," Duncan answered.
The AvengerE. Phillips Oppenheim
Even since the war, the English have tried to belittle the Irish.
Changing WindsSt. John G. Ervine
Why, words would only belittle this part of our “performance.”
Adventures and RecollectionsBill o'th' Hoylus End
belittle
- to consider or speak of (something) as less valuable or important than it really is; disparage
- to cause to make small; dwarf
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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
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper