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Verb: belittle  bi'li-t(u)l
  1. Cause to seem less serious; play down
    "Don't belittle his influence";
    - minimize, denigrate, derogate, minimise [Brit]
     
  2. Express a negative opinion of
    "She belittled her student's efforts";
    - disparage, pick at
     
  3. Lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of
    "don't belittle your colleagues";
    - diminish

Derived forms: belittling, belittles, belittled

Type of: criticise [Brit], criticize, damn [informal], decrease, knock [informal], lessen, minify, pick apart

Encyclopedia: Belittle