as in slighting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
disparaging comments about the lack of talent among the musical performers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dismissing
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
disparaged polo as a sport for the idle rich
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disparaging
Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025
Emily’s father didn’t say it in a disparaging way—more like That was just Ryan.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
And there would be lots of soldiers around, either Army or National Guard, and the people who were civilians would be young people, very disparaging about the military.
—Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The 2023 Economic Report Of The President published in March of 2023 was relatively disparaging of cryptoassets and DLTs.
—Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Prior to appearing on Cunningham's show on Monday, Huggins made more disparaging remarks about Xavier.
—Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 10 May 2023
As a former prosecutor in New York City and a professor of law at West Point, Tim Bakken believes that most people find solace in casting the most disparaging label possible upon an adversary.
—Howard Manly, The Conversation, 20 Dec. 2022
Scam victims could be called innocent to the misdeeds of the net, but being deemed gullible is the more disparaging and stubborn charge.
—Hannah Zeavin, Harper’s Magazine , 22 June 2022
Will Smith was given the Golden Raspberry Awards’ lone non-disparaging prize, with Smith earning the Redeemer Award after landing an actual Oscar nod for his role in King RIchard; Nicolas Cage and Jamie Dornan were also considered for the quasi-honor.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2022
Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Jackson drew heated criticism for making a disparaging remark about New York's Jewish community and for his relationship with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has said the Jewish community is to blame for Black oppression.
—Cheryl Corley, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
The agreement also has a provision that the Board of Police Commissioners, the Police Chief or the Police Department’s human resources division will not provide any disparaging information regarding his employment or his departure.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
An arbitrator ruled that the NFLPA’s conduct violated terms of the collective bargaining agreement, deeming the publication of the report cards to be disparaging toward clubs and individuals.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
At one point, a song disparaging Noem and serving as an anti-ICE anthem that’s been widely circulated on social media could be heard coming from a crowd gathered outside the stadium.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
In some virtual meetings, employees drop off the call while an AI assistant stays behind, quietly documenting gossip or disparaging remarks made by remaining employees, then emailing the transcript to the full team.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
The filmmaker reached out in light of disparaging comments made about the actor by Quentin Tarantino on a podcast, and the pair got to talking.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
So please, stop disparaging previous presidents.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
Emily’s father didn’t say it in a disparaging way—more like That was just Ryan.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
And there would be lots of soldiers around, either Army or National Guard, and the people who were civilians would be young people, very disparaging about the military.
—Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The 2023 Economic Report Of The President published in March of 2023 was relatively disparaging of cryptoassets and DLTs.
—Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Prior to appearing on Cunningham's show on Monday, Huggins made more disparaging remarks about Xavier.
—Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 10 May 2023
As a former prosecutor in New York City and a professor of law at West Point, Tim Bakken believes that most people find solace in casting the most disparaging label possible upon an adversary.
—Howard Manly, The Conversation, 20 Dec. 2022
Scam victims could be called innocent to the misdeeds of the net, but being deemed gullible is the more disparaging and stubborn charge.
—Hannah Zeavin, Harper’s Magazine , 22 June 2022
Will Smith was given the Golden Raspberry Awards’ lone non-disparaging prize, with Smith earning the Redeemer Award after landing an actual Oscar nod for his role in King RIchard; Nicolas Cage and Jamie Dornan were also considered for the quasi-honor.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2022
Verb
Minn was to speak about the documentary a few weeks ago at area high schools, but his appearances were canceled apparently because of concern about disparaging the police.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Jackson drew heated criticism for making a disparaging remark about New York's Jewish community and for his relationship with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has said the Jewish community is to blame for Black oppression.
—Cheryl Corley, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
The agreement also has a provision that the Board of Police Commissioners, the Police Chief or the Police Department’s human resources division will not provide any disparaging information regarding his employment or his departure.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
An arbitrator ruled that the NFLPA’s conduct violated terms of the collective bargaining agreement, deeming the publication of the report cards to be disparaging toward clubs and individuals.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
At one point, a song disparaging Noem and serving as an anti-ICE anthem that’s been widely circulated on social media could be heard coming from a crowd gathered outside the stadium.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
In some virtual meetings, employees drop off the call while an AI assistant stays behind, quietly documenting gossip or disparaging remarks made by remaining employees, then emailing the transcript to the full team.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
The filmmaker reached out in light of disparaging comments made about the actor by Quentin Tarantino on a podcast, and the pair got to talking.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
So please, stop disparaging previous presidents.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparaging
Verb
-
Rather than dismissing student activism as naïve or disruptive, civic leaders can engage these young Marylanders in real discussions about how government works and how citizens influence change.—
Karl W. Bickel,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Feb. 2026
-
And more generally, Jim isn’t dismissing the presence of some bad loans within the private credit complex.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
According to the Tourette Association of America, between 10 and 15% of people living with the disorder have vocal tics that may include disturbing, insulting or inappropriate language, including swear words and slurs.—
Anastasia Tsioulcas,
NPR,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Some leaders, producers and directors were not amused by Goldberg, saying her remarks were insulting and dismissive of a serious fight to gain diversity within the motion picture industry.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
-
That doesn’t mean minimizing the danger.—
Andy Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Davidson has Tourette's with Coprolalia, which involves involuntary outbursts of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks, according to the Tourette Association of America.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
-
In the video, one person could be heard calling out derogatory names, and another person told Moreno to get a gun before three shots rang out.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Finally, unnecessary technology usage in elementary grades is diminishing focus and harming academic performance.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The first is diminishing retail trader enthusiasm.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
They were berated with demeaning and misogynistic names.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
20 Feb. 2026
-
But few experiences prepare one for the long, grueling, demeaning process of running for president better than growing up black and poor in America.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kiros previously worked for a law firm and wrote an open letter in 2023 criticizing how law firms were responding in 2023 to pro-Palestinian protests.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
And Britt has refrained from mentioning the boy in her public remarks, instead focusing on criticizing Democrats for refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security amid negotiations.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Former detainees and human rights organizations have documented systematic torture and severe abuses inside the facility, including beatings, electric shocks, suspension by limbs, prolonged stress positions and other degrading treatment.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
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Currently the funds spent by governments and the private sector on destroying biodiversty and degrading cosystems like forests and seagrasses are 30 times larger than the flows supporting conservation, restoration and protection of the natural world.—
Nick Nuttall,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disparaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparaging. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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