put-downs
Verbal jabs thrown
Put-downs are remarks intended to humiliate or belittle someone: His comedy relies too much on cheap put-downs.
The term captures both casual teasing and genuinely cruel comments.
A put-down can be direct insult or subtler condescension—anything designed to make someone feel small or inferior.
Contemptuous mocking treatment
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- contemptDisdainful disregard
snicker · lampoon · parody · caricature · satire · send-up · spoof · raillery
Offensive remark or action
Painful awareness of failure
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- degradationDecline in condition
- abasementState of being lowered
- dishonorLoss of respect
disgrace · mortification · stigma · belittlement · demoralization · deflation · takedown · dressing-down
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
contempt · snicker · lampoon · parody · caricature · satire · send-up · spoof · raillery · ribbing
insult
Offensive remark or action
jibe · sneer · jeer · dig · zinger · diss · slight · cut · burn · comeback
shame
Painful awareness of failure
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- degradationDecline in condition
- abasementState of being lowered
dishonor · disgrace · mortification · stigma · belittlement · demoralization · deflation · takedown · dressing-down · rebuke
belittle
To make something seem unimportant
demean · devalue · decry · undermine · trivialize · downplay · dismiss · condescend · patronize · scoff
- comedycomedy, jokes, humor, puns, sarcasm
- condescendingpatronizing, disdainful, scornful, dismissive, belittling
- disrespectinsulting, belittling, demeaning, mocking, ridiculing
- jokesjokes, joke, puns, one-liners, pun
- mockerymockery, ridiculing, jeers, jeering, jibes
- petty behaviorsspite, malice, meanness, nastiness, bitterness
put-downscompliments
Expressions of admiration
praise · flattery · accolades · kind words · kudos
put-downsencouragement
Support spurring continued effort
affirmations · validation · uplift · pick-me-ups · support
put-downsbuild-ups
Gradual accumulations or increases
boosts · endorsements · testimonials · affirmations · validations