Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense disparages, present participle disparaging, past tense, past participle disparaged
verb
If you disparage someone or something, you speak about them in a way which shows that you do not havea good opinion of them.
[formal]
Many people will disparage what you are trying to achieve. [VERB noun]
The tax cut is widely disparaged by senators from both parties as a budget gimmick. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: run down, dismiss, put down, criticize More Synonyms of disparage
disparage in British English
(dɪˈspærɪdʒ)
verb(transitive)
1.
to speak contemptuously of; belittle
2.
to damage the reputation of
Derived forms
disparagement (disˈparagement)
noun
disparager (disˈparager)
noun
disparaging (disˈparaging)
adjective
disparagingly (disˈparagingly)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Old French desparagier, from des-dis-1 + parage equality, from Latin par equal
disparage in American English
(dɪˈspærɪdʒ)
verb transitiveWord forms: disˈparaged or disˈparaging
1.
to lower in esteem; discredit
2.
to speak slightingly of; show disrespect for; belittle
SYNONYMY NOTE: to disparage is to attempt to lower in esteem, as by insinuation, invidious comparison, faintpraise, etc.; to , depreciate is to lessen (something) in value as by implying that it has less worth than is usuallyattributed to it [he depreciated her generosity]; decry implies vigorous public denunciation, often from the best of motives [to decry corruption in government]; belittle is equivalent to , depreciate, but stresses a contemptuous attitude in the speaker or writer; , minimize suggests an ascription of the least possible value or importance [don't minimize your own efforts]
OPPOSITES: extol, praise, magnify
Derived forms
disparaging (disˈparaging)
adjective
disparagingly (disˈparagingly)
adverb
Word origin
ME disparagen < OFr desparagier, to marry one of inferior rank < des- (see di-1) + parage, rank < per, peer1
Examples of 'disparage' in a sentence
disparage
As a pair of cyber geeks, we're used to stunning women being disparaging about us.
The Sun (2016)
The first time we met he was saying disparaging things about writers and how lazy they were.
Sidney Sheldon The Other Side of Me
He was often as disparaging about the results as he was in his restaurant column.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He is equally disparaging about the England selection process.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He has an edge and has to restrain himself from being nasty, sarcastic and disparaging about people.
The Sun (2016)
It's far easier to find examples of Labour politicians saying disparaging things about him.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He makes no disparaging comments about religion (of the kind that are sadly too common in the writings of other contemporary scientific storytellers).
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
disparage
British English: disparage VERB
If you disparage someone or something, you speak about them in a way which shows that you do not have a good opinion of them.
...his tendency to disparage literature.
American English: disparage
Brazilian Portuguese: depreciar
Chinese: 诋毁
European Spanish: menospreciar
French: déprécier
German: herabsetzen
Italian: denigrare
Japanese: 軽蔑する
Korean: 얕보다
European Portuguese: depreciar
Latin American Spanish: menospreciar
(verb)
Definition
to speak contemptuously of
his tendency to disparage literature
Synonyms
run down
dismiss
put down
criticize
His mother had rarely criticized him or any of her children.
underestimate
discredit
He says his accusers are trying to discredit him.
ridicule
scorn
minimize
Some have minimized the importance of these factors.
disdain
a political leader who disdained the compromises of politics
undervalue
deride
This theory is widely derided by conventional scientists.
slag (off) (slang)
knock (informal)
I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them.
blast
They have blasted the report.
flame (informal)
rubbish (informal)
devoted to rubbishing her political opponents
malign
We maligned him dreadfully, assuming the very worst about him.
detract from
denigrate
We habitually denigrated our boss in his absence.
belittle
We mustn't belittle her outstanding achievement.
decry
He is impatient with those who decry the scheme.
underrate
He underrated the seriousness of William's head injury.
vilify
He was vilified and forced into exile.
slander
He has been questioned on suspicion of slandering the politician.
deprecate
They deprecate him and call him names.
tear into (informal)
diss (slang)
throw shade (at) (slang)
defame
He complained that the article defamed him.
bad-mouth (slang)
lambast(e)
traduce (formal)
They have been traduced in the press as xenophobic bigots.
derogate
asperse
Additional synonyms
in the sense of belittle
Definition
to treat (something or someone) as having little value or importance
We mustn't belittle her outstanding achievement.
Synonyms
run down,
dismiss,
diminish,
put down,
underestimate,
discredit,
ridicule,
scorn,
rubbish (informal),
degrade,
minimize,
downgrade,
undervalue,
knock (informal),
deride,
malign,
detract from,
denigrate,
scoff at,
disparage,
decry,
sneer at,
underrate,
deprecate,
depreciate,
defame,
derogate
in the sense of blast
Definition
to criticize severely
They have blasted the report.
Synonyms
criticize,
attack,
put down,
censure,
berate,
castigate,
tear into (informal),
flay,
rail at,
flame (informal),
diss (slang),
lambast(e),
chew out (US, Canadian, informal),
throw shade (at) (slang)
in the sense of criticize
Definition
to find fault with
His mother had rarely criticized him or any of her children.