belittle
To disparage, depreciate, or minimize the importance, value, merit, or significance of…To disparage, depreciate, or minimize the importance, value, merit, or significance of someone or something.
» Tom belittled Mary.
Meaning
2 senses(ambitransitive)To disparage, depreciate, or minimize the importance, value, merit, or significance of someone or something.
Don't belittle your colleagues.
(transitive)To make small.
schmälern, herunterspielen, herabsetzen
занижа́тьzanižátʹ, принижа́тьprinižátʹ, преуменьша́тьpreumenʹšátʹ
прини́жуватиprynýžuvaty, прини́зитиprynýzyty
- lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of
- express a negative opinion of
- cause to seem less serious; play down
Examples
47 sentencesTom belittled Mary.
I enjoy belittling other people's shortcomings.
He belittles even the smallest achievements.
He takes every opportunity to belittle you.
Death isn't something that can be belittled.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From be- + little. Coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1782.From be- + little. Coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1782.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
belittles, belittling, belittled, belittledSynonyms
42 synonymsAntonyms
11 antonymsWord family
4 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle