Library / English Dictionary

BELITTLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of

Example:

don't belittle your colleagues

Synonyms:

belittle; diminish

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "belittle" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Express a negative opinion of

Example:

She disparaged her student's efforts

Synonyms:

belittle; disparage; pick at

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "belittle" is one way to...):

criticise; criticize; knock; pick apart (find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "belittle"):

pan; tear apart; trash (express a totally negative opinion of)

discredit; disgrace (damage the reputation of)

deprecate; depreciate; vilipend (belittle)

belittle; denigrate; derogate; minimize (cause to seem less serious; play down)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause to seem less serious; play down

Example:

Don't belittle his influence

Synonyms:

belittle; denigrate; derogate; minimize

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "belittle" is one way to...):

belittle; disparage; pick at (express a negative opinion of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "belittle"):

talk down (belittle through talk)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

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