belittle

[ bih-lit-l ]
/ bɪˈlɪt l /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR belittle ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), be·lit·tled, be·lit·tling.

to regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate; depreciate; disparage.

Origin of belittle

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; be- + little

OTHER WORDS FROM belittle

be·lit·tle·ment, noun be·lit·tler, noun

Words nearby belittle

belike, belinda, belisarius, belisha beacon, belitong, belittle, belitung, belive, belize, belize city, belizean

Words related to belittle

criticize, decry, squelch, discredit, deride, scorn, downplay, disparage, underestimate, blister, derogate, lower, deprecate, knock, minimize, smear, undervalue, squash, rip, discount

Example sentences from the Web for belittle

British Dictionary definitions for belittle

belittle
/ (bɪˈlɪtəl) /

verb (tr)

to consider or speak of (something) as less valuable or important than it really is; disparage
to cause to make small; dwarf

Derived forms of belittle

belittlement, noun belittler, noun belittlingly, adverb