pooh-pooh
verb
ˈpü-(ˌ)pü 
pü-ˈpü
variants or less commonly poo-poo or pooh
ˈpü
pooh-poohed also poohed; pooh-poohing also poohing; pooh-poohs also poohs
intransitive verb
: to express contempt or impatience
transitive verb
: to express contempt for or make light of : play down, dismiss
pooh-pooher noun
or less commonly poo-pooer
plural pooh-poohers also poo-pooers
Despite what chief Providence pooh-pooher Jack Thomas writes in the Globe, I say the place is worth regular visits, especially after a day at the beach in southern Rhode Island. 
Paul Fischer
Paul Fischer 
Word History
Etymology
pooh
First Known Use
1823, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
pooh-poohing
verb
variants also poohing
as in dismissing
informal to think or say that (something) is not very good or not true They pooh-poohed my suggestion. He pooh-poohed the idea that the house was haunted. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dismissing
- rejecting
- ignoring
- mocking
- resisting
- scorning
- flouting
- defying
- disregarding
- disobeying
- shrugging off
- opposing
- scoffing (at)
- disobliging
- overlooking
- disputing
- brushing (off)
- fighting
- violating
- winking (at)
- combating
- rebelling (against)
- passing over
- contesting
- withstanding
- transgressing
- bucking
- tuning out
- breaching
- infringing
- overpassing
- revolting (against)
- breaking
- mutinying (against)
- combatting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- serving
- submitting (to)
- observing
- yielding (to)
- surrendering (to)
- keeping
- deferring (to)
- stooping (to)
- conceding (to)
- noting
- noticing
- cooperating (with)
- hearing
- regarding
- heeding
- capitulating (to)
- attending
- watching
- agreeing (to)
- following
- acquiescing (to)
- marking
- goose-stepping (to)
- assenting (to)
- listening (to)
- obliging
- acceding (to)
- obeying
- conforming (to)
- complying (with)
- minding