disparage

verb

dis·​par·​age di-ˈsper-ij How to pronounce disparage (audio)
-ˈspa-rij
disparaged; disparaging; disparages

transitive verb

1
: to belittle the importance or value of (someone or something) : to speak slightingly about (someone or something)
disparaged his opponent
religious beliefs disparaged as superstition
… drew fire this month for disparaging the company's theme parks as "cheap day-care centers for teenagers" …Lisa Fickenscher
2
: to lower (someone or something) in rank or reputation : degrade
Mr Miles said changing the hospital's name was not designed to disparage the name or recognition of Lady Cilento.Lucy Stone
disparagement
di-ˈsper-ij-mənt How to pronounce disparage (audio)
-ˈspa-rij-
noun
disparager noun

Did you know?

In Middle English, to "disparage" someone meant causing that person to marry someone of inferior rank. Disparage derives from the Anglo-French word desparager, meaning "to marry below one's class." Desparager, in turn, combines the negative prefix des- with parage (meaning "equality" or "lineage"), which itself comes from per, meaning "peer." The original "marriage" sense of disparage is now obsolete, but a closely-related sense (meaning "to lower in rank or reputation") survives in modern English. By the 16th century, English speakers (including William Shakespeare) were also using disparage to mean simply "to belittle."

Choose the Right Synonym for disparage

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 disparage in a Sentence

Voters don't like political advertisements in which opponents disparage one another. It's a mistake to disparage their achievements. The article disparaged polo as a game for the wealthy.
Recent Examples on the Web Wolfgang Van Halen has feelings about David Lee Roth's recent disparaging comments toward him. Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 In 2019, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump in New York for making disparaging comments and branding her a liar after the publication of her memoir. Ben Protess, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 She was previously criticized for social media activity that included liking posts that disparaged the Black Lives Matter movement, mocking coronavirus mask-wearing as a Democratic Party conspiracy and echoing former president Donald Trump’s baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Kelly Kasulis Cho, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 In another, a federal judge threatened to eject him for making disparaging comments about his opponent that could be heard by the jury. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2024 Public instances, like Jackie Walters, star of Bravo’s Married to Medicine, making disparaging comments about Black women in medical care demonstrate this. Essence, 28 Feb. 2024 Trump owes another $110,000 for refusing to comply with a subpoena in the civil fraud case and $15,000 for repeatedly disparaging the judge’s law clerk in violation of a gag order. Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2024 Another lawmaker accused Jones of disparaging the speaker, and the House voted 68-20 to stop Jones from speaking on the matter. Dakin Andone, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024 Merriam-Webster labels the word as offensive, dated and disparaging. Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to degrade by marriage below one's class, disparage, from Anglo-French desparager to marry below one's class, from des- dis- + parage equality, lineage, from per peer

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of disparage was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near disparage

Cite this Entry

“Disparage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disparage. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

disparage

verb
dis·​par·​age dis-ˈpar-ij How to pronounce disparage (audio)
disparaged; disparaging
1
: to lower in rank : degrade
2
: to speak of as unimportant or not much good : belittle
disparaged the performance
disparagement noun
disparaging adjective
disparagingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on disparage

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