Synonym Chooser

How does the verb depreciate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of depreciate are belittle, decry, and disparage. While all these words mean "to express a low opinion of," depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed.

critics depreciate his plays for being unabashedly sentimental

When is belittle a more appropriate choice than depreciate?

While in some cases nearly identical to depreciate, belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude.

belittled the achievements of others

In what contexts can decry take the place of depreciate?

The words decry and depreciate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decry implies open condemnation with intent to discredit.

decried their defeatist attitude

When might disparage be a better fit than depreciate?

Although the words disparage and depreciate have much in common, disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison.

disparaged polo as a game for the rich

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 depreciate Yet claims rarely exceeded thirty thousand dollars, and the Bronx’s swiftly depreciating tenements were generally owned by petty and mid-tier operators, not Tom Wolfe-style masters of the universe. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025 They are stuck with an old SUV that's worth next to nothing and is depreciating by the mile. Charles Singh, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025 Unlike historical infrastructure booms such as those for railroads or telecom, AI data centers are short-lived, fast-depreciating, and require continuous hardware upgrades—suggesting this pattern of investment may remain volatile and capital-hungry for years to come. Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025 This is a character who once realized her lifetime earnings were stored in a rapidly depreciating designer shoe collection. Robyn Bahr, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for depreciate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depreciate
Verb
  • Made with prebiotic oat to soothe irritation and support the skin barrier, the gentle cream also has feverfew extract, which is packed with antioxidants that reduce redness and further calm irritation.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Funding used in high school for more than 29 credit hours will reduce scholarship eligibility after high school by one year, and more than 59 credit hours will reduce eligibility by two years.
    Edward McKinnon, Arkansas Online, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The actor denied the allegations, and the case was later dismissed, per The Hollywood Reporter.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Those who dismissed intersectionality saw such policies as little more than allowing the disadvantaged to commit crimes without consequences to make up for past inequities, afflicting crime victims from the same disadvantaged communities.
    John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At the same time, wins that suddenly don’t look so good get devalued.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Batting average is increasingly devalued in this age of advanced metrics.
    John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That transition will bring with it some advantages (the conflict of being a part of the Comcast empire is diminished) but also challenges.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Many observers feel that the family’s power in Thailand is diminished, and its long dominant political machine could finally be out of steam.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Officials repeatedly minimized fire risks and touted the benefits of letting the fire burn, according to The Republic's findings.
    Rey Covarrubias Jr, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Context switching is minimized.
    Paul Kovalenko, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Six separate receivers have caught touchdown passes already this season, a stark difference from a season ago when Green was criticized for being too reliant on a small number of playmakers.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Like Kennedy, Anderson was criticized over the eight-minute tape, which was meant for private consumption and created by consenting spouses.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Depreciate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depreciate. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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