belittling

1 of 2

adjective

be·​lit·​tling bi-ˈli-tᵊl-iŋ 

-ˈlit-liŋ,

bē-

: expressing disparagement : disparaging, depreciatory

a set of belittling stereotypes

"I think it might embarrass Stuart to hear mice mentioned in such a belittling manner."

—E. B. White

Nisbett's attitude is far from belittling toward Eastern cultures.

—Christopher Shea

There was … a certain loftiness and sweetness that rebuked your belittling criticisms and stilled them.

—Mark Twain

belittlingly adverb

… she is secretly carrying on a love affair with her mousy first cousin, belittlingly known to the family as Little Charles …

—Charles Isherwood

belittling

2 of 2

noun

: a disparaging statement

Bernheim's fiercely focused, cantankerous Frieda … practically steals the show with her nonstop maternal belittlings …

—Robert Hurwitt

: disparagement, deprecation

His constant belittling of her work led Joan to believe that she was incompetent …

—Sharon Freedburg

Synonyms

Adjective

• contemptuous
• decrying
• degrading
• demeaning
• denigrative
• denigratory
• deprecatory
• depreciative
• depreciatory
• derisory
• derogative
• derogatory
• detractive
• disdainful
• disparaging
• pejorative
• scornful
• slighting
• uncomplimentary

Examples of belittling in a Sentence

Adjective

there's no need for belittling comments about your brother's trumpet playing

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Yet, since sometime before July 23, 2022, an anonymous user has been steadily updating IMDb’s trivia section on Corsage with hostile and belittling comments presented under the guise of background information. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2023

The boundaries revolve around disrespectful or belittling speech. —Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 28 Sep. 2020

Noun

This explains Trump’s obsessive bragging about his brilliance and big hands, his weird belittling of the attractiveness of opponents’ wives, his admiration for oh-so-macho Elon Musk. —Joan C. Williams june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025

Hence, Johnny’s constant resentment and belittling of Sofia, the psycho-spawn of Carmine, who, however inadvertently, got his beautiful cousin killed. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1793, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above