belittle

verb

be·​lit·​tle bi-ˈli-tᵊl 

bē-

belittled; belittling bi-ˈli-tᵊl-iŋ 

-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 matter …

—Mark Twain

belittlement

bi-ˈli-tᵊl-mənt 

bē-

noun

belittler

bi-ˈli-tᵊl-ər 

-ˈlit-lər, 

bē-

noun

Synonyms of belittle

• dismiss
• minimize
• diminish
• disparage
• denigrate
• criticize

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

Played by a perpetually blank Ella Beatty, the daughter of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, Lizzie is the belittled and abused daughter of a disinterested father, Andrew (Charlie Hunnam), and hateful step-mother, Abby (Rebecca Hall). — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026

The elastic insult is meant to belittle the target as inauthentic, attention-hungry, unserious, and unmanly. — Erik Forrest Jackson, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026

Even the teammate who bestowed a belittling nickname upon him can’t wrap his head around Messick’s first year in the majors. — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

His work has often been criticized for belittling women and invading the privacy of others. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for belittle

• brittle
• kittel
• kittle
• little
• spital
• spittle
• tittle
• whittle
• acquittal
• committal
• hospital
• popliteal

Kids Definition

belittle

verb

be·​lit·​tle bi-ˈlit-ᵊl 

belittled; belittling -ˈlit-ᵊl-iŋ 

-ˈlit-liŋ

: to make (a person or a thing) seem little or unimportant

belittle the success of a rival

belittlement

-ᵊl-mənt 

noun

belittler

-ˈlit-ᵊl-ər 

-ˈlit-lər

noun