SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
disparage
verb
To speak about someone or something in a way that belittles it.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Speak belittlingly
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topDeride adds ridicule; disparage broadly lowers the perceived worth of its target.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See disparage in use
It is easy to disparage an idea without offering a better one.
During the discussion, Victor gave a condescending smile and told the new volunteer that someday she would understand how serious clubs operate. His disdainful response treated her proposal as beneath consideration before he had examined it. When he began to disparage her experience instead of addressing the demonstration plan, the organizer redirected the conversation to practical questions.
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