as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
belittled the action star's acting ability
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of belittle
The ruthlessness of the producers cutting folk off mid-speech or retracting the microphone and upping the music volume was belittling to those on stage.
—
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Unlike some of her contemporaries (say, Lauryn Hill), Missy never rejected or belittled explicit markers of femme subjectivity.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
Morin says these conversations can strengthen a healthy relationship, or point out flaws in an unhealthy one, such as if your partner fails to take you seriously or belittles your feelings.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for belittle
Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Unlike some of her contemporaries (say, Lauryn Hill), Missy never rejected or belittled explicit markers of femme subjectivity.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
Morin says these conversations can strengthen a healthy relationship, or point out flaws in an unhealthy one, such as if your partner fails to take you seriously or belittles your feelings.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for belittle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belittle
Verb
-
Then in September, Newsom's Legal Affairs Secretary David Sapp sent an email to JUSD administrators on what appeared to include a copy of the state's motion to dismiss that lawsuit, as seen in public records obtained by Fox News Digital.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
Curiel also declined to dismiss causes of action against three of the deputy’s supervisors, who are accused of knowing the female deputy failed to return to the scene and had dissuaded Quinones from providing assistance.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Until the time of surgery if it is warranted, sometimes using saline flushes or eye lubricants can minimize irritation of the eyes.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
Most of the time blueberries must be hand-picked, but machine harvestable blueberries can minimize labor costs for growers.—
Olivia Wakim,
AJC.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Even the most ambitious stories often felt exhausted by the third installment, with diminishing creative and financial returns.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Israel has repeatedly criticized the Lebanese government for not doing enough to diminish Hezbollah’s capabilities.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This movement, known as critical legal studies, was associated with the political left, and its exponents, known as crits, loved to disparage liberal theorists’ devotion to the Constitution as naïve and counterproductive.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The tension is especially acute in the close quarters of the Cook County Board room, where staff and commissioners, including Stamps, sit only a few feet away from public speakers, who at times raise their voices and address or disparage officials by name.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Sportsbooks are constantly boasting about their protections and trying to denigrate those offered by competitors.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Calling his father and uncle gusanos — or worms, a Spanish-language term coined by Castro to denigrate those fleeing the island — the agent seized the bank and in an instant dispossessed a family that arrived from Spain in the 16th century.—
Joshua Goodman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the awards ceremony closing the Berlinale, some winners used their acceptance speeches to support Palestinians and criticize Israel over its war in Gaza.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
10 May 2026
-
Additionally, Pashinyan has opted to expand Armenia’s partnerships with Western governments, something that has been sharply criticized by Russian officials.—
Mark Temnycky,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belittle. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
