as in dismissed
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
belittled the action star's acting ability
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Recent Examples of belittled
The president relentlessly criticized and belittled Powell, attempting to blame him for some of the discontent over the economy that followed the president’s own tariff announcements.
—
Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Paxton and Hunt belittled Cornyn’s border appearance.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The bride shared that the moment left her feeling belittled, even as guests laughed along.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Instead of being celebrated as trailblazers, these women are mocked by the press, underestimated by their colleagues, and belittled by society at large.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
That career that is underestimated and belittled by those who preferred to have a laugh for a few moments, preferred to throw the stone.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Giants rookie Abdul Carter belittled the Jets on Sunday while mocking the first lowlight of his NFL career.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
Borgman chronicles how the show focused on entertainment over health and how contestants were belittled and encouraged to follow unhealthy weight loss methods, including consuming caffeine pills.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
The complaint alleges that Santiago belittled, stalked and harassed Ortiz in front of other students and teachers.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Paxton and Hunt belittled Cornyn’s border appearance.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The bride shared that the moment left her feeling belittled, even as guests laughed along.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Instead of being celebrated as trailblazers, these women are mocked by the press, underestimated by their colleagues, and belittled by society at large.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
That career that is underestimated and belittled by those who preferred to have a laugh for a few moments, preferred to throw the stone.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Giants rookie Abdul Carter belittled the Jets on Sunday while mocking the first lowlight of his NFL career.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
Borgman chronicles how the show focused on entertainment over health and how contestants were belittled and encouraged to follow unhealthy weight loss methods, including consuming caffeine pills.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
The complaint alleges that Santiago belittled, stalked and harassed Ortiz in front of other students and teachers.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belittled
Verb
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The additional charges were dismissed.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
15 Feb. 2026
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Obama dismissed those rumors, joking that if aliens existed and were being concealed, even the president was not in on it.—
Adisa Hargett-Robinson,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The strain of data centers on public infrastruction-power and water-is being minimized as they are built in Texas.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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The report warned that neglect is often minimized within the child welfare system, where it can be conflated with poverty and social workers may be reluctant to penalize poor or minority parents who are juggling multiple jobs.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Wollenzien also points to the growing anxiety among professional artists about job security, as more than two-thirds of workers in creative industries believe that AI has diminished their employability in workplaces.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
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That diminished view of the Democratic Party in the AP-NORC polling is consistent regardless of Democrats’ age, race, ideology or educational background — suggesting that appealing to a specific group or two won’t fix the problem.—
Linley Sanders,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Red McCombs, one of the most prodigious benefactors in UT history who gave more than $100 million to the school’s athletic programs before his death in 2023, famously criticized the hiring of former head football coach Charlie Strong in 2014.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
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Massie criticized Bondi's combative testimony before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Moore also referred to a video Trump posted of Michelle and Barack Obama’s faces put onto apes, claiming his actions cause Black people to feel disrespected and disparaged.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Feb. 2026
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Books highlighting stories of Blacks in the military were disparaged, and many removed from the US Naval Academy in what was shocking to military personnel far and wide.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Musk and Tesla have denigrated the use of radar and lidar sensors, which are integral parts of the systems used by Waymo and most other self-drivers.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
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Not only that, the cruel Lady Penwood denigrated Sophie's mother as a disgraceful woman who died with no money, title or security for her daughter.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belittled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belittled. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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