belittle
verb
be·lit·tle
bi-ˈli-tᵊl 
bē-
belittled; belittling
bi-ˈli-tᵊl-iŋ
-ˈlit-liŋ,
bē-
1
: to speak slightingly of : disparage
belittles her efforts
2
: to cause (a person or thing) to seem little or less
a curiosity so vast that it almost belittled the main matter—
Mark Twain
Mark TwainSynonyms
Examples of belittle in a Sentence
The critic belittled the author's work.
Her detractors are in the habit of belittling her accomplishments.
Recent Examples on the Web
The letter writer felt used and belittled by the stepdaughter, so there’s work to do to keep the peace.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
George Papadopoulos Though President Trump once belittled him, Trump pardoned his former campaign aide on Dec. 22, 2020.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
New Hampshire’s lower chamber has four hundred people, nearly double the second-largest state legislature in the country, so there were plenty of representatives willing to take potshots at the hawk and belittle the children who wanted to honor it.
—Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2024
His distinctive monotone, used to harangue and belittle those who challenge him, lifted into song.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for belittle 
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R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
George Papadopoulos Though President Trump once belittled him, Trump pardoned his former campaign aide on Dec. 22, 2020.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
New Hampshire’s lower chamber has four hundred people, nearly double the second-largest state legislature in the country, so there were plenty of representatives willing to take potshots at the hawk and belittle the children who wanted to honor it.
—Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2024
His distinctive monotone, used to harangue and belittle those who challenge him, lifted into song.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for belittle
Dictionary Entries Near belittle
Cite this Entry
“Belittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belittle. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
belittle
verb
be·lit·tle
bi-ˈlit-ᵊl
belittled; belittling
-ˈlit-ᵊl-iŋ
-ˈlit-liŋ
: to make (a person or a thing) seem little or unimportant
belittle the success of a rival
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