belittling
Making someone small
Belittling is language or behavior that makes someone or something seem small, unimportant, or inadequate.
A belittling remark diminishes accomplishments or worth: His belittling comments about her career made her doubt herself.
The word carries connotations of condescension—the person belittling positions themselves as superior while cutting the other down to size.
Showing contemptuous disregard
- contemptuousShowing open disrespect
- disdainfulShowing open contempt
- scornfulShowing open contempt
- derisiveExpressing contemptuous ridicule
snide · sardonic · flippant · cavalier · brush off · wave away · eye-roll · cold shoulder
Treating someone as inferior
- condescendingSuperior and dismissive manner
- paternalisticRestrictive under guise of care
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
- haughtinessDisdainful sense of superiority
snobbery · supercilious · lofty · high-and-mighty · lordly · overbearing · pompous · talking down
Make light of
- downplayDiminish perceived importance
- underestimateJudge too low
- undervalueEstimate below true worth
- devalueReduce perceived worth
minimize · discount · de-emphasize · understate · play down · make light of · brush aside · gloss over
Express low opinion of
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- defameHarm reputation falsely
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
vilify · discredit · malign · smear · badmouth · trash-talk · besmirch · slur
dismissive
Showing contemptuous disregard
- contemptuousShowing open disrespect
- disdainfulShowing open contempt
- scornfulShowing open contempt
derisive · snide · sardonic · flippant · cavalier · brush off · wave away · eye-roll · cold shoulder · slight
patronizing
Treating someone as inferior
- condescendingSuperior and dismissive manner
- paternalisticRestrictive under guise of care
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
haughtiness · snobbery · supercilious · lofty · high-and-mighty · lordly · overbearing · pompous · talking down · arrogance
trivialize
Make light of
- downplayDiminish perceived importance
- underestimateJudge too low
- undervalueEstimate below true worth
devalue · minimize · discount · de-emphasize · understate · play down · make light of · brush aside · gloss over · marginalize
disparage
Express low opinion of
libel · vilify · discredit · malign · smear · badmouth · trash-talk · besmirch · slur · calumniate
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
sneer · scoff · deride · lampoon · satirize · parody · caricature · make fun of · laugh at · tease
humiliate
Cause painful shame
mortify · shame · embarrass · dehumanize · disrespect · undermine · crush · wound · put down · tear down
- bad behaviorslying, cheating, stealing, rudeness, gossiping
- condescendingpatronizing, disdainful, scornful, dismissive, demeaning
- dismissive behaviorssnub, scorn, ignore, disdain, dismissal
- disrespectinsulting, demeaning, mocking, ridiculing, scorning
- downplayingminimizing, downplay, trivializing, soft-pedal, dismissing
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
belittlingpraising
Voicing admiration
complimentary · laudatory · appreciative · approving · admiring
belittlingencouraging
Giving confidence or hope
uplifting · supportive · empowering · affirming · validating
little, belittle, littlest, littler, belittlement, littleness, belittled, belittles, belittler