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
Relevance
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
Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president.
—Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Librarians are subject to disparaging comments and threats of violence at meetings and in public.
—Diane Gensler, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026
The sewer label was initially a disparaging remark from a Socialist leader, who thought figures like Hoan were overly practical, boasting about their sanitation systems instead of political theory.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The Vallejo City Unified School District has severed ties with a third-party contractor after its president made disparaging remarks about the city and engaged in conduct inconsistent with district policies, the school district said in a statement.
—Aldo Toledo, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Mar. 2026
The 53-year-old sci-fi novelist came under fire this week for making several disparaging remarks about the shows on the Critical Drinker podcast.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026
Trump administration officials were quick to side with the officers who killed Good and Pretti, also making disparaging remarks about the two Minnesotans and accusing them of attempting to carry out domestic terrorism in their interactions with immigration authorities.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2026
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, directed STAT to Roll Call, which first reported the news, where officials acknowledged Malone’s departure and defended Nixon against disparaging comments by Malone.
—Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
Hegseth has spent his tenure as defense secretary disparaging laws and rules and reveling in the rhetoric of violence.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
While Trump’s talk of a possible NATO pullout dates back years, the comments to The Telegraph newspaper in the U.K., published Wednesday, were among the clearest and most disparaging yet — suggesting that the fracture has deepened perhaps to a point of no return.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president.
—Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
In emails shared with the Tribune, Clint Litle also complained to Tower management about disparaging comments allegedly made about his wife’s appearance, including about her makeup and hair extensions.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Librarians are subject to disparaging comments and threats of violence at meetings and in public.
—Diane Gensler, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2026
The sewer label was initially a disparaging remark from a Socialist leader, who thought figures like Hoan were overly practical, boasting about their sanitation systems instead of political theory.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The Vallejo City Unified School District has severed ties with a third-party contractor after its president made disparaging remarks about the city and engaged in conduct inconsistent with district policies, the school district said in a statement.
—Aldo Toledo, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Mar. 2026
The 53-year-old sci-fi novelist came under fire this week for making several disparaging remarks about the shows on the Critical Drinker podcast.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026
Trump administration officials were quick to side with the officers who killed Good and Pretti, also making disparaging remarks about the two Minnesotans and accusing them of attempting to carry out domestic terrorism in their interactions with immigration authorities.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2026
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, directed STAT to Roll Call, which first reported the news, where officials acknowledged Malone’s departure and defended Nixon against disparaging comments by Malone.
—Chelsea Cirruzzo, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026
Hegseth has spent his tenure as defense secretary disparaging laws and rules and reveling in the rhetoric of violence.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparaging
Verb
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In October, Superior Court Judge Judy Bae granted LCLJ’s motion, dismissing the city’s lawsuit and allowing LAFCO to move to the next steps in the process.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
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But dismissing it as fusty would be an unfortunate act of self-deprivation.—
Rachel Howard,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Survivors rejected the offer, calling it insulting.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The cast’s sole survivor is Jessica Hecht, who pours miraculous warmth and complexity into her faintly insulting role as Colleen, the head teller, a morally upright spinster goosed by her flirtation with Sonny and the spotlight.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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By identifying risks early, the care team at Saddleback Medical Center creates personalized care plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs, thereby minimizing complications and maximizing positive outcomes.—
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The higher threshold has prompted a shift in focus from minimizing federal estate taxes to lowering taxes on income and capital gains.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The deft use of AI animation comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping has pushed for years to boost the country's abilities to spread its messages globally, gain a greater say on world affairs and counter Western narratives that Beijing often sees as biased or even derogatory about China.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Some incels use the term in a derogatory fashion, believing those who aspire to ascension are delusional.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Our diminishing water resources are being directed toward expanding cities.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The state officials, all Democrats, claimed the massive merger would give Nexstar too much control over local TV stations, ultimately hurting consumers by diminishing the diversity and quality of their newscasts.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But this seems to Miss Manners both demeaning and not guaranteed of success.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Sweeney's storyline didn't sit right with fans, who have watched the actress undergo similar demeaning character arcs in seasons one and two.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor apologized Wednesday for publicly criticizing Justice Brett Kavanaugh over a ruling on immigration stops — and seeming to imply that her conservative colleague's views were shaped by an out-of-touch upbringing.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Victoria Beckham is speaking out about her family in the wake of her son Brooklyn Beckham's comments criticizing his parents earlier this year.—
Mason Leib,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Amnesty International has said that the use of the death penalty under the new measure could violate the right to life and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as enshrined in international law.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
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For Hildegard…women’s maternal bodies were not corrupting and degrading, but strong, nurturing, and creative.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disparaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparaging. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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