belittle

verb

be·lit·tle | \ bi-ˈli-tᵊl

, bē-\

belittled; belittling\ bi-ˈli-tᵊl-iŋ

, -ˈlit-liŋ , bē- \

Definition of belittle

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

Other Words from belittle Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about belittle

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Other Words from belittle

belittlement \ bi-ˈli-tᵊl-mənt

, bē- \ noun

belittler \ bi-ˈli-tᵊl-ər

, -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

NBC News reported that Kelly has often belittled female staffers, claiming women are more emotional than men (which is unsurprising given his thoughts on women in the military). — Caitlin Wolper, Teen Vogue, "Chief of Staff John Kelly Reportedly Called President Trump an Idiot, Said Women Are More Emotional," 1 May 2018 The chances of that happening, however, are near zero, not least because his would-be country claims territory, like the border town of Brcko, that does not belong to it and has a habit of belittling Bosnian Muslims as fanatics. — Andrew Higgins, New York Times, "Russia’s Feared ‘Night Wolves’ Bike Gang Came to Bosnia. Bosnia Giggled.," 31 Mar. 2018 Their rebellion was against progressive snobs who belittled conservatives and their traditional values. — Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, "Brazil’s Trumpian Candidate," 30 Sep. 2018 The unidentified woman told Selvaratnam that Schneiderman had slapped, choked and spat at her and also belittled her appearance. — Samuel Chamberlain, Fox News, "Eric Schneiderman, powerful Dem who took on Weinstein, is accused of violence against women, drug abuse in shocking report," 2 Oct. 2018 The Power begins in a world in which women are subjugated, in which they are raped and ignored and belittled and live their lives in fear. — Constance Grady, Vox, "How 3 feminist dystopias are trying to update The Handmaid’s Tale for today," 29 Aug. 2018 Many students see free speech as less sacrosanct than an individual’s right not to feel attacked or belittled. — Mark Sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, "A different definition of violence," 8 Apr. 2018 For months now, President Trump had been humiliating his top law enforcement official, belittling him in public and yelling at him in private, in a clear attempt to force his resignation. — Zack Beauchamp, Vox, "We aren’t alarmed enough about Jeff Sessions’s firing," 8 Nov. 2018 Yet people have found an opportunity to belittle, as opposed to understanding how painful those kinds of recollections are. — Olivia Fleming, Harper's BAZAAR, "Ana Maria Archila and Maria Gallagher Open Up About Confronting Jeff Flake in the Elevator," 29 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'belittle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.