|  belittle 
 
 1. cause to seem less serious;
 play down
 - Don't belittle his influence
 • Syn:
 minimize, denigrate, derogate
 • Derivationally related forms:
 derogative (for: derogate), derogatory (for: derogate), derogation (for: derogate), denigrative (for: denigrate), denigration (for: denigrate), minimization (for: minimize), minimum (for: minimize)
 • Hypernyms:
 disparage, pick at
 • Hyponyms:
 talk down
 • Verb Frames:
 - Somebody ----s something
 - Something ----s something
 2. express a negative opinion of
 - She disparaged her student's efforts
 • Syn:
 disparage, pick at
 • Ant:
 flatter (for: disparage)
 • Derivationally related forms:
 disparagement (for: disparage), disparager (for: disparage)
 • Hypernyms:
 knock, criticize, criticise, pick apart
 • Hyponyms:
 pan, tear apart, trash, discredit, disgrace,
 deprecate, depreciate, vilipend, minimize, denigrate, derogate
 • Verb Frames:
 - Somebody ----s something
 - Somebody ----s somebody
 3. lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of
 - don't belittle your colleagues
 • Syn:
 diminish
 • Hypernyms:
 decrease, lessen, minify
 • Verb Frames:
 - Somebody ----s something
 - Somebody ----s somebody
 - Something ----s somebody
 - Something ----s something
 
 
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