belittle

verb

be·​lit·​tle bi-ˈli-tᵊl How to pronounce belittle (audio)
bē-
belittled; belittling bi-ˈli-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce belittle (audio)
-ˈlit-liŋ,
bē-

transitive verb

1
: to speak slightingly of : disparage
belittles her efforts
2
: to cause (a person or thing) to seem little or less
a curiosity so vast that it almost belittled the main matterMark Twain
belittlement noun
belittler
bi-ˈli-tᵊl-ər How to pronounce belittle (audio)
-ˈlit-lər
bē-
noun
Choose the Right Synonym for belittle

decry, depreciate, disparage, belittle mean to express a low opinion of.

decry implies open condemnation with intent to discredit.

decried their defeatist attitude

depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed.

critics depreciate his plays for being unabashedly sentimental

disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison.

disparaged polo as a game for the rich

belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude.

belittled the achievements of others

Examples of belittle in a Sentence

The critic belittled the author's work. Her detractors are in the habit of belittling her accomplishments.
Recent Examples on the Web The museum’s attempts to help viewers orient themselves according to the works’ intentions, or social causes, feel belittling. Martha Schwendener, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Refuse to debate with someone who is manipulative or trying to belittle you. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 And, of course, the sitting council member, Kevin de León, who has remained in power despite calls by Villaraigosa and others to resign after he was captured on a recording with other politicians in a conversation that belittled Black people, Oaxacans and Jews, among others . Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Mention Belmopan, Belize’s capital that sits deep in the country’s interior, and many Belizeans will belittle the city as a bastion of pencil-pushing bureaucrats that’s not just dull, but also devoid of nightlife. Simon Romero Alejandro Cegarra, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Republicans who control the Legislature were at times openly hostile, blocking many of her cabinet nominees and belittling her ample use of the veto stamp. The Arizona Republic, 8 Jan. 2024 This is not to belittle their role in shareholder value creation. Robert G. Eccles, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 His distinctive monotone, used to harangue and belittle those who challenge him, lifted into song. Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2023 Trump has repeatedly attended the proceedings when he was not obligated to do so, periodically pausing in the courtroom hallway to address reporters and belittle James and the lawsuit and defend his business experience. Mark Berman, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'belittle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of belittle was in 1782

Dictionary Entries Near belittle

Cite this Entry

“Belittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belittle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

belittle

verb
be·​lit·​tle bi-ˈlit-ᵊl How to pronounce belittle (audio)
belittled; belittling -ˈlit-ᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce belittle (audio)
-ˈlit-liŋ
: to make (a person or a thing) seem little or unimportant
belittle the success of a rival
belittlement noun
belittler
-ˈlit-ᵊl-ər How to pronounce belittle (audio)
-ˈlit-lər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on belittle

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