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definitions

deprecate

[dep-ri-keyt]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deprecate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), dep·re·cat·ed, dep·re·cat·ing.

to express earnest disapproval of.
to urge reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.).
to depreciate; belittle.
Archaic. to pray for deliverance from.

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RELATED WORDS

derogate, discountenance, frown, object, rip, disesteem, expostulate, detract, disfavor, disparage, pooh-pooh, depreciate, discommend

Nearby words

  1. depr.,
  2. depravation,
  3. deprave,
  4. depraved,
  5. depravity,
  6. deprecating,
  7. deprecation,
  8. deprecative,
  9. deprecatory,
  10. depreciable

Origin of deprecate

1615–25; < Latin dēprecātus prayed against, warded off (past participle of dēprecārī), equivalent to dē- de- + prec(ārī) to pray + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
Can be confuseddeprecate depreciate (see usage note at the current entry)

Synonyms for deprecate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deprecate ON THESAURUS.COM
1. condemn, denounce, disparage.

Synonym study

1. See decry.

Usage note

An early and still the most current sense of deprecate is “to express disapproval of.” In a sense development still occasionally criticized by a few, deprecate has come to be synonymous with the similar but etymologically unrelated word depreciate in the sense “belittle”: The author modestly deprecated the importance of his work. In compounds with self-, deprecate has almost totally replaced depreciate in modern usage: Her self-deprecating account of her career both amused and charmed the audience.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for deprecated

British Dictionary definitions for deprecated

deprecate

verb (tr)

to express disapproval of; protest against
to depreciate (a person, someone's character, etc); belittle
archaic to try to ward off by prayer
Derived Forms

Word Origin for deprecate

C17: from Latin dēprecārī to avert, ward off by entreaty, from de- + precārī to pray

confusable

Avoid confusion with depreciate
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 deprecated

deprecate

v.

1620s, "to pray against or for deliverance from," from Latin deprecatus, past participle of deprecari "to pray (something) away" (see deprecation). Meaning "to express disapproval" is from 1640s. Related: Deprecated, deprecating.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper