disparage
verb
transitive verb
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In Middle English, to "disparage" someone meant causing that person to marry someone of inferior rank. Disparage derives from the Anglo-French word desparager, meaning "to marry below one's class." Desparager, in turn, combines the negative prefix des- with parage (meaning "equality" or "lineage"), which itself comes from per, meaning "peer." The original "marriage" sense of disparage is now obsolete, but a closely-related sense (meaning "to lower in rank or reputation") survives in modern English. By the 16th century, English speakers (including William Shakespeare) were also using disparage to mean simply "to belittle."
Synonyms
- bad-mouth
- belittle
- cry down
- decry
- denigrate
- deprecate
- depreciate
- derogate
- diminish
- dis [slang]
- diss
- discount
- dismiss
- kiss off
- minimize
- play down
- poor-mouth
- put down
- run down
- talk down
- trash
- trash-talk
- vilipend
- write off
Example Sentences
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 6 Sep. 2022 Far more difficult than highlighting Roe’s multiple shortcomings is Justice Alito’s similar effort to disparage and overrule the Casey trio’s opinion. David J. Garrow, WSJ, 4 May 2022 Showing respect for various solutions establishes the expectation that team members can debate ideas but not disparage them. Womensmedia, Forbes, 2 June 2022 Some will disparage disclosures of entanglements with slavery and insist that attempts to remedy past wrongs are unnecessary. Adam Sabes, Fox News, 1 May 2022 In the days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Aleksandr Zaldostanov, the leader of a pro-Putin biker club gang, the Night Wolves, turned to Facebook to disparage the Ukrainian president and push falsehoods about the war. Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2022 And Russia has played a role, exploiting social media to disparage the use of natural gas and fossil fuels. John Fund, National Review, 27 Feb. 2022 As the days and the big wins went on, Schneider became a fixture in the nanasphere (grandma’s kitchen TV, the activity room at the senior center), charming even the demographic that might be prompted to disparage people like her. Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2022 Jamie referred to the #FreeBritney movement as conspiracy theories for years, and continued to disparage his daughter and her team after agreeing to step down. Marisa Dellatto, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
Middle English, to degrade by marriage below one's class, disparage, from Anglo-French desparager to marry below one's class, from des- dis- + parage equality, lineage, from per peer
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
disparage
verb
disparage
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- dismiss
- diminish
- minimize
- denigrate
- criticize
- belittle
- derogate
- decry
- deprecate
- bad-mouth
- diss
- denounce
- depreciate
- discount
- condemn
- dislike
- discredit
- cry down
- talk down
- dump on
- trash-talk
- run down
- scold
- trash
- play down
- write off
- poor-mouth
- dis
- vilipend
- vilify
- defame
- kiss off
- abuse
- put down
- malign
- slander
- disgrace
- asperse
- discommend
- censure
- slur
- traduce
- reprehend
- rip
- disapprove (of)
- reprobate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- applaud
- exalt
- extol
- glorify
- laud
- praise
- endorse
- recommend
- approve
- magnify
- extoll
- indorse
- favor
- commend
- sanction
- acclaim
- countenance
- compliment
- eulogize
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of disparage are belittle, decry, and depreciate. While all these words mean "to express a low opinion of," disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison.
The meanings of belittle and disparage largely overlap; however, belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude.
The synonyms decry and disparage are sometimes interchangeable, but decry implies open condemnation with intent to discredit.
While the synonyms depreciate and disparage are close in meaning, depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed.