DISPARAGE Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'disparage' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of disparage are belittle , decry , and depreciate . While all these words mean "to express a low opinion of," disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison. // disparaged polo as a game for the rich

Q: When might 'belittle' be a better fit than 'disparage'?

The meanings of belittle and disparage largely overlap; however, belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude. // belittled the achievements of others

Q: When is 'decry' a more appropriate choice than 'disparage'?

The synonyms decry and disparage are sometimes interchangeable, but decry implies open condemnation with intent to discredit. // decried their defeatist attitude

Q: When is it sensible to use 'depreciate' instead of 'disparage'?

While the synonyms depreciate and disparage are close in meaning, depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed. // critics depreciate his plays for being unabashedly sentimental

disparage

verb

di-ˈsper-ij

Definition of disparage

as in to dismiss

to express scornfully one's low opinion of disparaged polo as a sport for the idle rich

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb disparage contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of disparage are belittle, decry, and depreciate. While all these words mean "to express a low opinion of," disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison.

disparaged polo as a game for the rich

When might belittle be a better fit than disparage?

The meanings of belittle and disparage largely overlap; however, belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude.

belittled the achievements of others

When is decry a more appropriate choice than disparage?

The synonyms decry and disparage are sometimes interchangeable, but decry implies open condemnation with intent to discredit.

decried their defeatist attitude

When is it sensible to use depreciate instead of disparage?

While the synonyms depreciate and disparage are close in meaning, depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed.

critics depreciate his plays for being unabashedly sentimental

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 disparage These doubters also disparage as unreliable or wishful thinking the oral histories passed down by Hemings’s descendants who have placed Jefferson in their family tree. — Andrew Lawler, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026 Teesside instead saw itself as half-forgotten by the UK government, then the butt of jokes and disparaging coverage. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 But for as much as Kirk was revered on the right, he was reviled on the left, facing pushback for comments disparaging immigrants and transgender people and questioning the qualifications and capabilities of women and Black Americans. — Elena Moore, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026 Obviously designed to give LSU an advantage by adding more physically advanced and developed players, that tactic was immediately disparaged by opposing coaches, NFL coaches and, more importantly, the SEC itself. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disparage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparage

Verb

The complaint escalates the department’s battle with the federal judiciary, which has halted administration priorities, dismissed high-profile prosecutions and accused government lawyers in some cases of failing to comply with court orders.

— Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
The state did not seek to dismiss allegations related to Morrissey’s statements to the media or to her agreement to log a cache of bullets under a separate case number, functionally hiding them from the defense.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Verb

The 49ers have played from ahead in each of their three games, minimizing obvious passing situations and third-and-longs.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Those challenges include performing nonlinear operations, incorporating memory, maintaining computational precision, minimizing optical losses and integrating photonic components with conventional electronics.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of minimize

Verb

When every decision requires multiple levels of authorization, ownership naturally diminishes.

— Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
And where does the water come from for these 10 new cities as the West scrambles for what’s left of diminishing supplies?

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

One candidate promises to lower gas and grocery prices and criticizes the incumbent for not doing so (as if politicians can control the market).

— Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Osborn has been traveling across Nebraska to hold meetings in all 93 counties, and has repeatedly criticized Ricketts for not holding town halls to meet with constituents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticize

Verb

Today, some of Nashville’s biggest stars have aligned themselves with (or shrewdly eschewed criticism of) a political movement that has denigrated countless demographic groups, including Punjabi immigrants.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
Trump’s preference for immediate gratification explains many of his decisions, including defunding scientific and medical research, accelerating fossil-fuel emissions, and denigrating American soft power globally.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of denigrate

Verb

And yet, these same commentators who proudly belittle Clark and Cunningham continue to claim that Black lesbian women are the ones the sports media relentlessly targets.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
People who post puerile, profane or belittling comments are protesters on a virtual street.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of belittle

Browse Nearby Words

disowns

disparage

disparaged

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Disparage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparage. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of disparage

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

discreet

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes