dumb down
Make too simple
To dumb down is to simplify something, usually by removing complexity or nuance, to make it accessible to a wider audience—often with the implication that the result is oversimplified or insulting to intelligence: They dumbed down the curriculum, a dumbed-down version of the report.
The phrase carries a note of criticism, suggesting the original was diminished rather than improved.
Remove essential complexity
- diluteReduce by adding solvent
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- streamlineRemove unnecessary elements
- condenseMake more compact
abridge · distill · digest · summarize · gloss over · skim · shorten · cut
Act superior toward others
- underestimateJudge too low
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
- disdainScornful disregard
- dismissSend away or reject
disrespect · infantilize · pander · spoon-feed · hand-hold · insult · trivialize · devalue
oversimplify
Remove essential complexity
- diluteReduce by adding solvent
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- streamlineRemove unnecessary elements
condense · abridge · distill · digest · summarize · gloss over · skim · shorten · cut · trim
condescend
Act superior toward others
- underestimateJudge too low
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
- disdainScornful disregard
dismiss · disrespect · infantilize · pander · spoon-feed · hand-hold · insult · trivialize · devalue · denigrate
- condescensionpatronizing, belittling, superiority, smugness, arrogance
dumb downelevate
To raise upward
smarten up · sophisticate · intellectualize · enrich · raise the bar
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