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 TwainExamples 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
Self respect/love is a strong virtue, tolerating belittling is toxic.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Link was captured on Ring camera footage mocking and belittling Jimenez after shooting him, Bergida said.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Instead of being celebrated as trailblazers, these women are mocked by the press, underestimated by their colleagues, and belittled by society at large.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belittle
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Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Link was captured on Ring camera footage mocking and belittling Jimenez after shooting him, Bergida said.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
That conflict comes to a head in the middle of campus in the film’s most intense scene, as Alma verbally belittles and demeans her until Maggie snaps and suddenly smacks her mentor.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Instead of being celebrated as trailblazers, these women are mocked by the press, underestimated by their colleagues, and belittled by society at large.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for belittle
Cite this Entry
“Belittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belittle. Accessed 3 Nov. 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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