BELITTLE
Dictionary entry overview: What does belittle mean?
• BELITTLE (verb)
The verb BELITTLE has 3 senses:
1. cause to seem less serious; play down
2. express a negative opinion of
3. lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of
Familiarity information: BELITTLE used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• BELITTLE (verb)
Meaning:
Cause to seem less serious; play down
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
belittle; denigrate; derogate; minimize
Context example:
Don't belittle his influence
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
Meaning:
Express a negative opinion of
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
disparage; belittle; pick at
Context example:
She disparaged her student's efforts
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
Meaning:
Lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
diminish; belittle
Context example:
don't belittle your colleagues
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
