BELITTLEMENT Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

belittlement

noun

Definition of belittlement

as in criticism

the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant an unconscionable belittlement of his assistant in public

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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 belittlement During Season 10, a newly confident Batula — who seemed to despise Cooke from the first minute of the premiere episode — appeared to be poised to launch a triumphant post-divorce arc, free at last from Cooke’s belittlement and verbal abuse. — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 29 June 2026 Apolline may embrace the social media aspects of her career but George’s belittlement rankles her. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for belittlement

Noun

This dynamic drew criticism from readers — and, later, a response from Berry.

— August Lamm, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Speaking in Spanish, Leo emphasized the importance of protecting family life and delivered a pointed criticism of both laws.

— Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of criticism

Noun

As my colleague Clare Malone has reported in this magazine, Weiss first came to public attention in college, as a consequence of her support for Israel and consistent denigrations of the Palestinian cause.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Freedom, mobility; who gets to be an artist; style, ornamentation, artifice; work, leisure; the counterculture; the denigration of femininity; West Coast oddballism.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of denigration

Noun

Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition backing the government, waging a yearslong campaign of air bombardment that brought it international condemnation over civilian deaths.

— AHMED HATEM, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
News of his arrest quickly drew expressions of shock and disbelief from his colleagues — as well as condemnation from those who felt as though Townsend was being unfairly targeted by law enforcement because of the nature of his work.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of condemnation

Noun

This is the second time a federal judge has tossed the defamation suit, which sought $10 billion in damages.

— Scott Nover, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026
Trump sought at least $20 billion in damages on two counts of defamation in the initial suit, filed in July 2025.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of defamation

Noun

The abuse included shooting him with a BB gun, burning his genitals and forcing him to eat cat feces.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Surveys show that both Democrats and Republicans believe that sizable proportions of the other side favor wrongful imprisonment, tax fraud, embezzlement, adultery, animal abuse, and child pornography.

— Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of abuse

Noun

The announcement was met with ridicule, with most experts saying the purchase would not have any impact on price.

— Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
The Turning Point country show that ran against him this year led to weeks of ridicule for everyone involved that seems like a factor in this autumn’s less aggro, more Christian Kid Rock.

— Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of ridicule

Noun

However, while return on investment for artificial intelligence remains uncertain, rising depreciation expenses from new data center buildouts present an additional drag on corporate profitability.

— , CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
The initial spending surge is climbing but losing steam as AI capex growth as a share of GDP slows, the boost from last year’s tax depreciation incentives fades, and the stock-market wealth effect cools.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of depreciation

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belittlement

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“Belittlement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belittlement. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of belittlement

noun

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