pooh-poohing
Waving it away
Pooh-poohing is dismissing something as unworthy of serious consideration, treating an idea or concern with contempt: She pooh-poohed my suggestion that we hire a professional.
The word captures a particular flavor of casual, superior dismissal—waving something away as beneath notice rather than engaging with it.
Disregarding without consideration
- waving awayGestured dismissal of something
- disregardingDeliberately not considering
- discountingReducing prices offered
- overlookingFailing to see or consider
ignoring · rebuffing · spurning · rejecting · negating · shrugging off · writing off · turning down
Reducing to smallest extent
- trivializingDiminishing perceived significance
- downplayingDiminishing perceived significance
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
- undervaluingJudging below true worth
underestimating · deprecating · demeaning · slighting · devaluing · talking down · condescending · patronizing
Scornfully imitating or ridiculing
- ridiculingMocking with contempt
- sneeringExpressing scorn facially
- scoffingMocking with contempt
- jeeringVocal public mockery
taunting · lampooning · satirizing · snickering · smirking · jibing · razzing · heckling
Questioning the truth
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- disbelievingRefusing to accept something
- distrustingLacking confidence in others
- challengingHard to accomplish
naysaying · second-guessing · debunking · refuting · contradicting · disputing · countering · invalidating
Showing utter contempt
- scorningExpressing strong contempt
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- haughtinessDisdainful sense of superiority
looking down on · snobbery · arrogance · loftiness · disrespect · disapproval · distaste · turning up nose
brushing off
Disregarding without consideration
- waving awayGestured dismissal of something
- disregardingDeliberately not considering
- discountingReducing prices offered
overlooking · ignoring · rebuffing · spurning · rejecting · negating · shrugging off · writing off · turning down · passing over
minimizing
Reducing to smallest extent
- trivializingDiminishing perceived significance
- downplayingDiminishing perceived significance
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
undervaluing · underestimating · deprecating · demeaning · slighting · devaluing · talking down · condescending · patronizing · disparaging
mocking
Scornfully imitating or ridiculing
- ridiculingMocking with contempt
- sneeringExpressing scorn facially
- scoffingMocking with contempt
jeering · taunting · lampooning · satirizing · snickering · smirking · jibing · razzing · heckling · teasing
doubting
Questioning the truth
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- disbelievingRefusing to accept something
- distrustingLacking confidence in others
challenging · naysaying · second-guessing · debunking · refuting · contradicting · disputing · countering · invalidating · incredulity
disdaining
Showing utter contempt
- scorningExpressing strong contempt
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
looking down on · haughtiness · snobbery · arrogance · loftiness · disrespect · disapproval · distaste · turning up nose · high-handedness
- downplayingminimizing, downplay, trivializing, belittling, soft-pedal
pooh-poohingrespecting
About; on the topic
valuing · heeding · validating · esteeming · acknowledging
pooh-poohingembracing
Holding warmly, willingly accepting
endorsing · championing · supporting · encouraging · welcoming