as in slighting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
there's no need for belittling comments about your brother's trumpet playing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dismissing
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
belittled the action star's acting ability
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of belittling
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2023
The boundaries revolve around disrespectful or belittling speech.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 28 Sep. 2020
Regina Garcia Cano, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024
Calling and demeaning people, belittling people.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for belittling 
Adjective
Yet, since sometime before July 23, 2022, an anonymous user has been steadily updating IMDb’s trivia section on Corsage with hostile and belittling comments presented under the guise of background information.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2023
The boundaries revolve around disrespectful or belittling speech.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 28 Sep. 2020
Verb
But chocolates and candy can come across as a belittling gestures, showing a lack of understanding of the struggles driving women to protest, particularly in regions where protests have been combative.
—Regina Garcia Cano, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024
Calling and demeaning people, belittling people.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for belittling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belittling
Verb
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The issue of whether and how to change the Supreme Court is deeply polarizing along partisan lines, with many Democrats demanding change in recent years and most Republicans dismissing those demands as efforts to stop the court's shift to the right.Tobi Raji The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 8 Dec. 2024
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In late November, the team fired general manager Joe Douglas, just six weeks after dismissing head coach Robert Saleh.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Arizona State football fans slam 'truly insulting' College Football Playoff graphic Winter swoon: December has not been kind to Phoenix Suns in recent years The vehicle backed out of the driveway and into the road.Olivia Rose, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
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The dawning of his second term has invoked jubilation from those who welcome Trump back to the Oval Office and fear from those alarmed by his insulting rhetoric about political opponents, the media, migrants and others.Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In addition to minimizing the effects of UV damage, this serum also features pumpkin ferment and pomegranate extract—both of which help to dissolve dead skin cells, thus reducing the appearance of pores, acne, and overall dullness.Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 11 Dec. 2024
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The company’s strategy emphasizes efficient production scaling while minimizing costs and supply chain disruptions.Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Even by his already demeaning standards, Trump's rallies and events have also taken a dark turn this fall.David Faris, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
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Oz winces when Al throws him a big old necklace from the family jewel case; the gesture is completely demeaning.Andy Andersen, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Verb
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Climate change exacerbates the threats with rising temperatures disrupting migration patterns and diminishing the availability of milkweed, the monarch caterpillar's essential food source.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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Some experts are wary that a new administration that is less focused on renewable energy could thwart some of solar’s growth by diminishing the IRA tax credits or imposing tariffs that could increase the cost of building solar panels.Sarah Sax, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The 2023 Economic Report Of The President published in March of 2023 was relatively disparaging of cryptoassets and DLTs.Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
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Prior to appearing on Cunningham's show on Monday, Huggins made more disparaging remarks about Xavier.Emily DeLetter, The Enquirer, 10 May 2023
Verb
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Making it in Russia while criticizing Vladimir Putin?Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
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The words echo Delay, Deny, Defend, the title of a 2010 book criticizing the insurance industry.Andrea Marks, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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More than 2 million people in the U.S. lack indoor plumbing and more live with failing sewage systems that can result in waste backing up into homes or pooling on the ground, threatening public health and degrading basic dignity, the EPA said.San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2024
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Read: ‘Shallow Hal’ and the never-ending fat joke Among Lost’s most degrading tropes was Hurley’s obsession with junk food.Rebecca Bodenheimer, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near belittling
Cite this Entry
“Belittling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belittling. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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