belittle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb cause to seem less serious; play down
    minimize; derogate; denigrate.
    • Don't belittle his influence
  2. verb express a negative opinion of
    pick at; disparage.
    • She disparaged her student's efforts
  3. verb lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of
    diminish.
    • don't belittle your colleagues

WordNet

Be*lit"tle transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Belittled present participle & verbal noun Belittling
Definitions
  1. To make little or less in a moral sense; to speak of in a depreciatory or contemptuous way. T. Jefferson.

Webster 1913