belittle

Verb

Verb Forms: belittled, belittling, belittles

• To make someone or something seem unimportant; to disparage.
• cause to seem less serious; play down
  • "Don't belittle his influence"
• express a negative opinion of
• lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of
  • "don't belittle your colleagues"
• To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is, especially as a way of showing contempt or deprecation.
• To make small.

Examples

• Don't belittle your colleagues.
• Never belittle a two-letter word; it might be the key to a victory.

Synonyms

denigrate, derogate, diminish, disparage, minimize, pick at, bagatellize, degrade, deprecate, downplay, make light of, play down, trivialize, understate

Antonyms

flatter, exaggerate

Related Words

cut down, vilipend