Verb: belittle bi'li-t(u)l
- Make something or someone seem less important or worthy
"Don't belittle his influence";
- minimize, denigrate, derogate, minimise [Brit]
- Lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of
"don't belittle your colleagues";
- diminish
- Express a negative opinion of
"She belittled her student's efforts";
- disparage, pick at
Derived forms: belittles, belittling, belittled
Type of: criticise [Brit], criticize, damn [informal], decrease, knock [informal], lessen, minify, pick apart
Antonym: blandish
Encyclopedia: Belittle