Synonyms for belittle
bɪˈlɪt lbe·lit·tle

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.7 / 3 votes

1. belittle

   To decry is to cry down, in some noisy, public, or conspicuous manner. A witness or a statement is discredited; the currency is depreciated; a good name is dishonored by unworthy conduct; we underestimate in our own minds; we may underrate or undervalue in statement to others. These words are used, with few exceptions, of things such as qualities, merits, attainments, etc. To disparage is to belittle by damaging comparison or suggestion; it is used only of things. A man's achievements are disparaged, his motives depreciated, his professions discredited; he himself is calumniated, slandered, etc. Compare SLANDER.

   See synonyms for PRAISE.

   Synonyms:
   carp at, decry, depreciate, derogate from, detract from, discredit, dishonor, disparage, lower, underestimate, underrate, undervalue

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. minimize, belittle, denigrate, derogateverb

   cause to seem less serious; play down

   "Don't belittle his influence"

   Synonyms:
   calumniate, smear, asperse, diminish, denigrate, minimize, besmirch, disparage, slander, pick at, sully, minimise, downplay, smirch, defame, understate, derogate

2. disparage, belittle, pick atverb

   express a negative opinion of

   "She disparaged her student's efforts"

   Synonyms:
   pluck at, denigrate, disparage, diminish, pick at, peck at, pull at, minimize, derogate, peck

3. diminish, belittleverb

   lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of

   "don't belittle your colleagues"

   Synonyms:
   pick at, fall, denigrate, disparage, diminish, lessen, decrease, minimize, derogate

Matched Categories

1. • Criticize
   • Disparage
   • Lessen

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. belittleverb

   Synonyms:
   decry, disparage, underrate, depreciate

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "belittle":

   denigrate, underestimate, disparage

How to pronounce belittle?

How to say belittle in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use belittle in a sentence?

1. Douglas Feith:

   The Obama administration has tended to downplay, to belittle, the ideological importance of the problem, you can't explain away the terrorism problem as a matter of economic and political frustration.

2. Gail Ernst:

   I continued to make sacrifices and not soar higher out of concern for Gail and our family, meanwhile, he hated any success I had, and would belittle me and get angry any time I achieved a goal.

3. Michel de Montaigne:

   Don't discuss yourself, for you are bound to lose if you belittle yourself, you are believed if you praise yourself, you are disbelieved.

4. Mark Twain:

   Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

5. Michael Kelly:

   [Trump becoming president] worries the hell out of me because he's displayed this short fuse, if he doesn't like something he's going to yell or he's going to be belittle someone or he's going to make demeaning remarks to different races, to women, to whoever he's disagrees with. Imagine that scenario playing out around the world.