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V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary


belittle

verb

Definition: 1. to trivialize something or to make someone or something seem less important or worthy; 2. to express a negative opinion of someone or something

Synonyms: trivialize, depreciate, devalue, disparage, deprecate, shame

Antonyms: exaggerate, praise, honor

Tips: Belittle often denotes condescension or vain superiority. Memory trick: to belittle someone is to make him or her feel, appear, or "be little" (small and worthless.)

Usage Examples:

The girl is unpopular because she seems arrogant and has a tendency to belittle the work of others. (trivialize, devalue, disparage)

He knew that she had worked hard on the project, but he belittled her efforts nonetheless, saying that the work she did hadn't required much skill. (trivialized, devalued)

I felt belittled and disheartened after her harsh comments about my job performance. (disparaged, shamed) adverb

A smart boss knows that belittling her employees in front of others is a sure way to lose good company morale. (deprecating, disparaging)


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