disparagement
Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Wikipedia.
?Note: This page may contain content that is offensive or inappropriate for some readers.
dis·par·age
(dĭ-spăr′ĭj)tr.v. dis·par·aged, dis·par·ag·ing, dis·par·ag·es
1. To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way.
2. To reduce in esteem or rank.
[Middle English disparagen, to degrade, from Old French desparager : des-, dis- + parage, high birth (from per, peer; see peer2).]
dis·par′age·ment n.
dis·par′ag·er n.
dis·par′ag·ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: disparage, denigrate, belittle, depreciate
These verbs mean to minimize the value or importance of someone or something. Disparage implies a critical or dismissive attitude often accompanied by disrespect: "Leaders who wouldn't be caught dead making religious or ethnic slurs don't hesitate to disparage the 'godless' among us" (Daniel C. Dennett).
Denigrate often adds a note of contempt: "elitist music critics who denigrated jazz by portraying it as inferior to the classical tradition" (Tyler Stovall).
Belittle means to reduce someone or something to a lowly status, often in an arrogant or hurtful manner: "those who would mock and belittle others simply on the basis of their physical appearance" (Tyler Dilts).
Depreciate implies the assignment of a low estimation of value or worth, though the judgment it expresses is generally less disdainful than in the previous terms: "[19th-century American] literature was still mainly subservient to English models and depreciated as secondhand and second rate" (Chronology of American Literature).
These verbs mean to minimize the value or importance of someone or something. Disparage implies a critical or dismissive attitude often accompanied by disrespect: "Leaders who wouldn't be caught dead making religious or ethnic slurs don't hesitate to disparage the 'godless' among us" (Daniel C. Dennett).
Denigrate often adds a note of contempt: "elitist music critics who denigrated jazz by portraying it as inferior to the classical tradition" (Tyler Stovall).
Belittle means to reduce someone or something to a lowly status, often in an arrogant or hurtful manner: "those who would mock and belittle others simply on the basis of their physical appearance" (Tyler Dilts).
Depreciate implies the assignment of a low estimation of value or worth, though the judgment it expresses is generally less disdainful than in the previous terms: "[19th-century American] literature was still mainly subservient to English models and depreciated as secondhand and second rate" (Chronology of American Literature).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | disparagement - a communication that belittles somebody or something effeminacy, effeminateness, sissiness, unmanliness, womanishness, softness - the trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man); "the students associated science with masculinity and arts with effeminacy"; "Spartans accused Athenians of effeminateness"; "he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him" discourtesy, disrespect - an expression of lack of respect cold water - disparagement of a plan or hope or expectation; "she poured cold water on the whole idea of going to Africa" belittling, denigration - a belittling comment aspersion, slur - a disparaging remark; "in the 19th century any reference to female sexuality was considered a vile aspersion"; "it is difficult for a woman to understand a man's sensitivity to any slur on his virility" detraction, petty criticism - a petty disparagement sour grapes - disparagement of something that is unattainable condescension, disdain, patronage - a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, traducement, obloquy - a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions boy - (ethnic slur) offensive and disparaging term for Black man; "get out of my way, boy" jigaboo, nigga, nigger, nigra, coon, spade - (ethnic slur) extremely offensive name for a Black person; "only a Black can call another Black a nigga" Tom, Uncle Tom - (ethnic slur) offensive and derogatory name for a Black man who is abjectly servile and deferential to Whites paleface - (slang) a derogatory term for a white person (supposedly used by North American Indians) poor white trash, white trash - (slang) an offensive term for White people who are impoverished Oriental, oriental person - a member of an Oriental race; the term is regarded as offensive by Asians (especially by Asian Americans) yellow man - offensive term for an Asian man yellow woman - offensive term for an Asian woman slant-eye, gook - (slang) a disparaging term for an Asian person (especially for North Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War) papist - an offensive term for Roman Catholics; originally, a Roman Catholic who was a strong advocate of the papacy fag, faggot, fagot, poof, poove, pouf, nance, queer, fairy, pansy, queen - offensive term for an openly homosexual man half-caste - an offensive term for the offspring of parents of different races or cultures half-breed - an offensive term for an offspring of parents of different races (especially of Caucasian and American Indian ancestry) Indian giver - an offensive term for someone who asks you to return a present he has given you mammy - an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S. Moonie - an often derogatory term for a member of the Unification Church |
| 2. | disparagement - the act of speaking contemptuously of disapproval - the act of disapproving or condemning belittling - the act of belittling deprecation, denigration - the act of expressing disapproval (especially of yourself) detraction - the act of discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation (especially by slander); "let it be no detraction from his merits to say he is plainspoken" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
disparagement
noun contempt, criticism, ridicule, discredit, condemnation, scorn, lessening, depreciation, disdain, degradation, denunciation, derision, slander, denigration, debasement, underestimation, derogation, contumely, aspersion, belittlement, detraction They were unanimous in their disparagement of the book.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
disparagement
nounThe act or an instance of belittling:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
disparagement
n → Herabsetzung f; (of work, achievements also) → Schmälerung f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995