belittle

[ bih-lit-l ]

/ bɪˈlɪt 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.

Nearby words

Origin of belittle

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

SYNONYMS FOR belittle

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

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

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
"Well, it is pretty fair," Carrots replied, with the air of one who thinks it modest to belittle his own property.
Teddy and Carrots|James Otis
Who, then, shall dare to belittle the importance of costume?
Chats on Costume|G. Woolliscroft Rhead
To discredit the new claimant, he grossly insulted her; to belittle the will, he calumniated the dead man.
John Marsh's Millions|Charles Klein
It would be a mistake to belittle or ignore this opinion, or to ascribe it to a temporary upheaval.
Freedom's Battle|Mahatma Gandhi
But she did not belittle herself in any such tendernesses of regret.
We Can't Have Everything|Rupert Hughes

British Dictionary definitions for belittle

belittle

/ (bɪˈlɪtəl) /

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

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.

belittle

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

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Nearby words

Origin of belittle

Examples from the Web for belittle

belittle

verb (tr)

belittle