verb

belittle

bih-LIHT-uhl

verb

To speak of someone or something as less important or impressive than it really is, often to show contempt.

"He constantly belittled his colleagues' ideas in meetings."

"She refused to let his comments belittle her achievements."

How to Use Belittle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo make someone or something seem smaller or less worthy than it actually is, usually unkindly.

Common mistake

Belittle is a verb about how you talk about someone, not about physical size.

Common pairings

belittle someone's efforts feel belittled

belittled past tense, belittles singular

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He constantly _____ his colleagues' ideas in meetings.

Formed from be- plus little; the word is credited to Thomas Jefferson, who coined it in 1782.

little whittle brittle spittle Doolittle