What does belittle mean?

Definitions for belittle
bɪˈlɪt lbe·lit·tle

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word belittle.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. minimize, belittle, denigrate, derogateverb

    cause to seem less serious; play down

    "Don't belittle his influence"

  2. disparage, belittle, pick atverb

    express a negative opinion of

    "She disparaged her student's efforts"

  3. diminish, belittleverb

    lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of

    "don't belittle your colleagues"

Wiktionary

  1. belittleverb

    To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is.

  2. Etymology: From. Coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1782 in "Notes on the State of Virginia": "So far the Count de Buffon has carried this new theory of the tendency of nature to belittle her productions on this side the Atlantic."

Wikipedia

  1. belittle

    Minimisation or minimization is a type of deception involving denial coupled with rationalisation/rationalization in situations where complete denial is implausible. It is the opposite of exaggeration. Minimisation, or downplaying the significance of an event or emotion, is a common strategy in dealing with feelings of guilt. Words associated with minimisation include:

ChatGPT

  1. belittle

    To belittle means to make someone or something seem unimportant, insignificant, or of little value, often by making disparaging or mocking remarks. It involves expressing a negative or critical judgment with the intention of minimizing or undermining the worth or abilities of the person or thing in question.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Belittleverb

    to make little or less in a moral sense; to speak of in a depreciatory or contemptuous way

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Belittle

    be-lit′l, v.t. to make small: to cause to appear small, to depreciate or disparage.—n. Belit′tlement.—adj. Belit′tling. [Pfx. be-, and Little.]

Matched Categories

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of belittle in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of belittle in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of belittle in a Sentence

  1. Vadym Skibitsky:

    The leadership of the Russian armed forces are going to try to belittle Prigozhin’s role and place however they can, so he cannot strengthen his position in the Kremlin hierarchy.

  2. Sue Scheff:

    Just because someone has a position of authority doesn't mean they're entitled to belittle and shame others online.

  3. Jason Bateman:

    Not to belittle it or excuse it or anything, but in the entertainment industry it is incredibly common to have people who are, in quotes,' difficult,' and when you're in a privileged position to hire people, or have an influence in who does get hired, you make phone calls.

  4. Michael Kelly:

    [Trump becoming president] worries the hell out of me because he's displayed this short fuse, if he doesn't like something he's going to yell or he's going to be belittle someone or he's going to make demeaning remarks to different races, to women, to whoever he's disagrees with. Imagine that scenario playing out around the world.

  5. Bryan Cranston:

    It is a privileged viewpoint to be able to look at the Ku Klux Klan and laugh at them and belittle them for their broken and hateful ideology, but the Ku Klux Klan and Charlottesville and white supremacists — that’s still happening and it’s not funny. It’s not funny to any group that is marginalized by these groups’ hatred, and it really taught me something.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for belittle

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"belittle." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/belittle>.

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