deprecate

American  

[dep-ri-keyt] / ˈdɛp rɪˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

deprecated, deprecating

1. to express earnest disapproval of.

   The physician’s committee moved to deprecate the standard American diet.

   Synonyms:

   minimize, decry, disparage, denounce, condemn

2. to urge reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.).

3. to depreciate; belittle.

   How can companies redress the experiences of marginalized team members whose voices are being deprecated in the workplace?

4. Computers. to cease supporting or recommending the use of (older elements, features, or versions of software).

   The publisher deprecates products after five years or if more than two more recent versions are available.

5. Archaic. to pray for deliverance from.

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deprecate British  

/ ˈdɛprɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to express disapproval of; protest against

2. to depreciate (a person, someone's character, etc); belittle

3. archaic to try to ward off by prayer

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Commonly Confused

See depreciate

Related Words

See decry.

Other Word Forms

• deprecating adjective
• deprecatingly adverb
• deprecation noun
• deprecative adjective
• deprecatively adverb
• deprecator noun
• half-deprecating adjective
• half-deprecatingly adverb
• nondeprecating adjective
• nondeprecatingly adverb
• undeprecating adjective
• undeprecatingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of deprecate

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin dēprecātus “prayed against, warded off” (past participle of dēprecārī ), equivalent to dē- “away from, out of“ + precārī “to pray” + -ātus past participle suffix; de-, pray, -ate ¹

Explanation

To deprecate is to show disapproval or to make someone feel unimportant by speaking to them disrespectfully, like seniors who deprecate younger students just for fun. To deprecate is to diminish, or to oppose, like when someone deprecates your dream of climbing Mt. Everest by calling it "a little walk up a hill." Some people deprecate themselves, which is called being self-deprecating. People who are self-deprecating downplay their abilities because they are humble — or want to appear that way. So if you do climb Everest and you are self-deprecating, you'll say it wasn't such a big deal, even if it was the proudest moment of your life.

Example Sentences

“I therefore deprecate attempts to expound Wittgenstein’s thought as a finished thing.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 18, 2025

A lot of people don’t know that world, so I’m going to have to introduce myself to them and then self-deprecate enough to earn the opportunity to then deprecate them.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2025

“Why? Because those algorithmic systems precisely are designed like a great, sort of giant spam filter to identify and deprecate and downgrade bad content.”

From Washington Post • Oct. 12, 2021

He added, “And as for the president, God bless his heart” — a phrase often used by genteel Southerners to politely deprecate someone.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 17, 2019

The Byrons themselves do not appear to have made any such complaints; and a sentence in one of Lord Byron's letters to the Prince seems to deprecate the reports spread by the Archbishop.

From Rupert Prince Palatine by Scott, Eva