as in slighting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
he typically followed up any mention of his accomplishments with some deprecatory comments about his perceived failures
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deprecatory
This subsided with unusual speed, however, as cricket fans took instead to sharing the self-deprecatory jokes coming over the border.
—
The Economist,
22 June 2019
Philipps has acquired her 1-million-and-growing Instagram followers through her self-deprecatory humor, raw honesty and vulnerability.
—
Sonja Haller,
USA TODAY,
11 July 2018
What the show is really selling is the Chang attitude and mystique, a combination of ego, exactitude, foul-mouthed rebelliousness and self-deprecatory nerdiness.
—
Mike Hale,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2018
The Economist,
22 June 2019
Philipps has acquired her 1-million-and-growing Instagram followers through her self-deprecatory humor, raw honesty and vulnerability.
—
Sonja Haller,
USA TODAY,
11 July 2018
What the show is really selling is the Chang attitude and mystique, a combination of ego, exactitude, foul-mouthed rebelliousness and self-deprecatory nerdiness.
—
Mike Hale,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deprecatory
Adjective
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Considering there were only 33 appearances this past season, such Heat prudence hardly could be viewed as insulting.
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What Florence has been doing is consistent and insulting.
Adjective
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Nobody wants anything derogatory about them, so our first thought is — could any part of this be seen as making fun of this person or this song?
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The Obamas have faced racist and derogatory attacks for years, including from public officials and online memes.
Adjective
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Not in the pejorative, party girl sense, but in a cool, chaotically chic way.
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These aren’t just NIMBY complaints—not in the pejorative sense, at least.
Adjective
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He was charged with arson, malicious destruction by means of a fire and timber set aflame.
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Johnson said the bill was meant to curtail malicious records requests, which do happen, where a citizen goes after copious amounts of records just to be a jerk and cost the government time and money.
Adjective
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Neither party admitted to liability and each agreed to refrain from making disparaging, negative or uncomplimentary statements about the other, the document said.
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Though the pollen gunk will pass, he's concerned by a contingent of Twitter trolls who've shared uncomplimentary reviews of his recent North American tour.
Adjective
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Many who lived through the pandemic—and witnessed this inability to combat the lethal pestilence—developed scornful opinions of the medical profession.
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Twelve years ago, while serving as lieutenant governor, Newsom was scornful.
Adjective
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The Uganda Law Society demanded Lukwago's immediate release, saying his arrest was contemptuous of court processes.
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Koenig’s former Yankees teammates were contemptuous of that miserly decision.
Adjective
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His whole behavior toward women is so disdainful.
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The popularity of e-bikes and e-motos has soared since the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving lawmakers and law enforcement scrambling to regulate the bikes that are often used by young riders ignorant or disdainful of the rules of the road.
Cite this Entry
“Deprecatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deprecatory. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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