DISPARAGEMENT Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

disparagement

noun

as in defamation

the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant his predictable disparagement of the latest fashions among young people

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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 disparagement Her mother, meanwhile, is backed up by her second husband (Kwon), a mild-mannered documentary filmmaker whose profession gives his wife yet more ammunition in her smiling disparagement of Sanghee. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026 Asserting claims for tortious interference, civil conspiracy, commercial disparagement and violations of Illinois consumer fraud laws, the Butlers sought more than $50 million in compensatory damages and over $200 million in punitive damages. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 June 2026 These disparagements cut to the core of southern manhood. — Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026 And the Times Magazine suggested the idea of discovering a similar past disparagement clause to the one that plagued HBO might dissuade any network from tackling a future Jackson project. — Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026 And though Chalamet did not make such insults himself, his comments fit into this broader context of disparagement and dismissal. — Chloe Angyal, Time, 9 Mar. 2026 As February ended, some of the things coming out of the coaches’ mouths felt more like despair than disparagement. — Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026 But in both cases, although separated by six decades, condemnation, disparagement and misogyny soon followed. — Aniko Bodroghkozy, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026 Aumann’s complaint alleges fraud, tortious interference and business disparagement and other alleged misdeeds. — Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparagement

Noun

Conservative filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza has settled a defamation lawsuit filed by a Gwinnett County man in 2022, avoiding a trial that was set to begin Monday in federal court in Atlanta.

— Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
While legal protections exist, like the TAKE IT DOWN Act and defamation claims, they are often poorly enforced, arrive too late, and face challenges from Big Tech.

— Allyson Kapin, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of defamation

Noun

The decision quickly drew criticism from cattle industry organizations.

— Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
As someone who counsels and advocates for people who have been convicted of the worst crimes imaginable, Hood often faces criticism from the victims’ families.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticism

Noun

These measures attracted widespread international condemnation, with several countries and the United Nations criticizing the Taliban’s treatment of women.

— Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026
Settlers have surrounded three Palestinian houses for more than a week, trapping families inside as Israeli troops declare a closed military zone and Washington issues an unusually sharp condemnation.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of condemnation

Noun

Furthermore, stocks are an amazing hedge against the long-term depreciation of fiat currencies.

— Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
The company reported preliminary underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $3 billion for April to June.

— Jenni Reid,Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of depreciation

Noun

Shortly after, Panettiere struggles with postpartum depression, and her substance abuse issues resurface.

— Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Video recordings and documents detail how investigators pursued the case, and the possibility of abuse, for months but failed to identify a perpetrator.

— Amy Brittain, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of abuse

Noun

This move by Torras signals a broader cultural shift where the utility of a device is no longer seen as a detraction from its style.

— Footwear News, Footwear News, 18 Mar. 2026
Agreeing with Kruse, Commissioner Tal Siddique cited the lack of commercial land as his main detraction for the project.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026

Definition of detraction

Noun

During Season 10, a newly confident Batula — who seemed to despise Cooke from the first minute of the premiere episode — appeared to be poised to launch a triumphant post-divorce arc, free at last from Cooke’s belittlement and verbal abuse.

— Kate Aurthur, Variety, 29 June 2026
Apolline may embrace the social media aspects of her career but George’s belittlement rankles her.

— Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2025

Definition of belittlement

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

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Synonyms of disparagement

noun

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