belittles

verb

present tense third-person singular of belittle
as in dismisses
to express scornfully one's low opinion of belittled the action star's acting ability

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 belittles Will’s obsessive, put-upon mother, Susan (Tandi Wright), belittles Alice, dresses her down for her attire at the funeral, and forces her to wear heels that don’t fit, leaving her feet bloody. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 July 2026 Trump, on the other hand, belittles and degrades people every day. — Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026 Tanya Reynolds offers a broader glimpse of Caroline Bingley, a character who often belittles Mary. — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 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 But there are many people with a voice that belittles them. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belittles
  1. dismisses
  2. diminishes
  3. minimizes
  4. criticizes
  5. disparages
  6. denigrates
Verb
  • Democratic lawmakers demand investigations and an oversight visit, alleging dangerous conditions and poor treatment aboard the Lincoln, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismisses the reports as exaggerated and misrepresented.
    — Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Rhaenyra also dismisses Mysaria, a wise move carried out in a very unwise manner, given the woman’s cunning.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismisses
Verb
  • The filter significantly diminishes elements commonly found in water that can be damaging, like chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, heavy metals, and more.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026
  • My belief in the freshmen’s collective greatness diminishes throughout the program.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminishes
Verb
  • According to Augmental, MouthPad's custom design minimizes its impact on speech.
    — Jesse Watson , Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Early planning minimizes time spent renegotiating schedules and maximizes time supporting their child’s interests.
    — Rebecca L. Palmer, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of minimizes
Verb
  • Beatty’s filing also criticizes the tarps that have covered the venue’s front portico for more than two months.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Lebanese leader criticizes Israel Saturday’s strikes are the deadliest since the truce went into effect two months ago.
    — Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of criticizes
Verb
  • But if a broadcaster publicly questions or disparages the viability of candidates, especially the front-runner, as Kevin Collins did on social media during BC’s search process, employers keep those receipts and consequences should be no surprise.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Still, Kennedy disparages germ theory and attempts to undermine it with shaky arguments.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of disparages
Verb
  • For an administration that famously denigrates Chicago, Friday was a notably good day for federal money for the city’s historic status as a rail hub.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • These two characters have maybe two minutes of screentime between them, and yet a certain portion of the internet, and Elon Musk, have raged, gnashed teeth and howled to the wind about the way this denigrates a Greek classic.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of denigrates

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belittles
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Cite this Entry

“Belittles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belittles. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of belittles for Spanish Speakers

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