as in slighting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
there's no need for belittling comments about your brother's trumpet playing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dismissing
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
belittled the action star's acting ability
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of belittling
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2023
The boundaries revolve around disrespectful or belittling speech.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 28 Sep. 2020
Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
Self respect/love is a strong virtue, tolerating belittling is toxic.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belittling
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
Verb
Pritchard is taking over for interim head coach Frank Reich, who replaced Troy Taylor in the spring after Taylor was dismissed for allegations of bullying and belittling staff.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
Self respect/love is a strong virtue, tolerating belittling is toxic.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belittling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belittling
Verb
-
On this front, Hochul is correct to push for a reevaluation, and the lawmakers dismissing the idea out-of-hand should come up with viable alternatives for protecting New Yorkers from price shocks that are well out of their control.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Missé, of course, is upset about it, particularly because Margo brings up what Kimi said about the murder being drug related while dismissing it, which is the part that makes this discussion tricky.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While their insulting jabs at each other make for good laughs, their arc as teammates learning to work together is what gives the film its heart.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
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Prestianni, who has denied racially insulting Vinícius and has been defended by Benfica, was provisionally suspended for one match by UEFA and did not play in the second leg.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sponsored and provided by LifeBridge Health Maintaining adequate nutrition during cancer treatment is important for sustaining strength, minimizing side effects and supporting the best treatment response possible.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The plan also is aimed at minimizing its impact on the neighborhood.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Walter White, executive secretary of the NAACP, lobbied the film studios in 1942 to stop portraying Blacks in demeaning, stereotypical roles, specifically citing Fetchit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
That framing, whether intentional or not, is disrespectful, dismissive and demeaning.—
Terri Freeman,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Indeed, the need for RTGs was laid bare by Curiosity and Perseverance's predecessors, the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, which were purely solar powered but suffered from diminishing power as Martian dust covered their solar arrays.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Without sufficient funds, the upkeep of these amenities may decline, potentially lowering property values and diminishing residents’ quality of life.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president.—
Joe Garofoli,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Conservative pundit Meghan McCain blasted commentator Tucker Carlson after a guest on his podcast and online show this week made a disparaging remark about her weight.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In 2010, a grand jury indicted former House Speaker Ray Sansom on grand theft and conspiracy charges and issued a 10-page presentment criticizing the Legislature’s appropriations process.—
Lawrence Mower,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
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Moore also pointed out flaws in facial recognition technology as a whole, criticizing its early, widespread adoption by law enforcement agencies worldwide.—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For Hildegard…women’s maternal bodies were not corrupting and degrading, but strong, nurturing, and creative.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Were Fidel Castro’s efforts to free his people from the degrading influences of foreigners meant to be erased by a president who, instead of allowing Cuba to struggle with its problems, added to them by cutting its oil supply?—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belittling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belittling. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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