SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
belittle
verb
To make someone or something seem less valuable or important.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Make seem less worthy
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topMinimize concerns apparent size or importance; disparage attacks worth or reputation.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See belittle in use
A fair review can identify weaknesses without trying to belittle the author.
At an imaginary design studio, Cam tried to ingratiate himself with the new team leader by praising every suggestion she made. He began to belittle a colleague's alternative sketches, calling them little doodles even when they addressed a real design problem.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license