Dictionary.com

deprecate

[ dep-ri-keyt ]
/ ˈdɛp rɪˌkeɪt /
See synonyms for: deprecate / deprecated / deprecating 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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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; see de-, pray, -ate1

synonym study for deprecate

1. See decry.

historical usage of deprecate

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM deprecate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH deprecate

deprecate , depreciate (see word story at the current entry)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to deprecate

derogate, discountenance, frown, object, rip, disesteem, expostulate, detract, disfavor, disparage, pooh-pooh, depreciate, put down, run down, take down, cut down to size, disapprove of, discommend, poor mouth, take dim view of

Example sentences from the Web for deprecate

British Dictionary definitions for deprecate

deprecate
/ (ˈdɛprɪˌkeɪt) /

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 of deprecate

Word Origin for deprecate

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

undefined deprecate

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