belittle

[ bih-lit-l ]

/ bɪˈlɪt l /

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See synonyms for: belittle / belittled / belittles / belittling on Thesaurus.com

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

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

OTHER WORDS FOR belittle

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

See synonyms for belittle on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of belittle

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

OTHER WORDS FROM belittle

be·lit·tle·ment, nounbe·lit·tler, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use belittle in a sentence

The press — both the tabloids and more credible, high-profile outlets — hounded women like Spears for disturbingly intimate details of their lives, then belittled and even villainized them for those very details.
Britney Spears and the trauma of being young, female and famous in the ’90s|Ashley Fetters|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
It’s been used to elevate one man’s patriotism over another’s, to declare some parts of the country more authentically American than others, to belittle some people’s hurt while carefully nursing others through their pain.
Democracy survived, barely|Robin Givhan|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
And not only that, but (and I say this in solidarity, not belittlement) the African humidity had wreaked havoc on her hair.
Why Hillary Lashed Out|Tina Brown|August 12, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Many of them surpass it in grandeur, and this belittlement of our globe shows a more sublime ideal of God.
Bouvard and Pcuchet, part 2|Gustave Flaubert

This I call the danger of perfection, our possible belittlement through beauty.
The Teacher|George Herbert Palmer
It was their back-parlour misinterpretation and belittlement of Nature that made these modern Philistines worship her.
Too Old for Dolls|Anthony Mario Ludovici
For Archie they had, one and all, a sensitive affection and respect which recoiled from a word of belittlement.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. XIX (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
He advised his followers to "play the game" and let the new member have his triumph without belittlement.
Carnac's Folly, Complete|Gilbert Parker

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 forms of belittle

belittlement, 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

belittle

OTHER WORDS FOR belittle

Origin of belittle

OTHER WORDS FROM belittle

Words related to belittle

How to use belittle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for belittle

Derived forms of belittle