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kleinreden — meaning in English

German → English · translate English → German instead

English meaning

  • belittle verb To speak of someone or something as less important or impressive than it really is, often to show contempt.
  • downplay verb To de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential.
  • trivialize verb To make something appear trivial

Senses

kleinreden is used for these senses in English:

  • belittle (transitive) To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is, especially as a way of showing contempt or deprecation. [from 1782]
  • downplay (transitive) To de-emphasize; to present or portray as less important or consequential.
  • trivialize (transitive) To make something appear trivial

Related German words