Belittle
/bɪˈlɪtl/
verbB2
Definition
To belittle means to speak or act in a way that makes a person, idea, or thing seem unimportant or not as good as others think. It often happens when someone wants to show they think better of themselves or to make others feel less confident.
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⚡ See It in Action
To make someone or something seem less important or less valuable
- •She felt belittled when her boss ignored her ideas during the meeting.
- •Don't belittle your achievements; they are important.
- •He belittled her efforts by saying anyone could do it.
To speak in a way that reduces the value or importance of something
- •The teacher belittled the student's question, making him feel embarrassed.
- •Critics belittled the new movie for its simple story.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'belittle' like 'make small,' but with words or actions that make someone feel less important or less good.
- ✓Picture a small shadow shrinking a big object, making it look tiny and weak.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone says your work is not good or your idea is silly, making you feel sad or less confident.
- ✓Sounds like 'be-little' → imagine someone telling you 'be little,' like telling you to be small or less.
- ✓In stories, a bully might belittle others to feel stronger or more important.
- ✓NOT like 'praise' (say good things), 'belittle' means to say bad or small things about someone or something.
- ✓NOT like 'ignore' (not paying attention), 'belittle' actively makes something seem less important.
- ✓NOT like 'criticize' (pointing out mistakes), 'belittle' focuses on making something seem unimportant or small, not just wrong.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Undermine: to weaken or reduce the power or importance of something (Use when the effect is more about weakening confidence or power)
- •Disparage: to speak badly about someone or something (Use when focusing on negative speech or opinions)
- •Minimize: to make something seem smaller or less important (Use when the focus is on reducing importance, often in a less emotional way)
- •Devalue: to reduce the value or worth of something (Use when talking about worth or money, or respect)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix 'be-' (makes verb), root 'little' (small)
- •Etymology: From English, combining 'be-' (a verb maker) + 'little' (small), meaning 'to make little'
- •Historical development: Used since the 16th century to mean making something seem small or unimportant
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe actions or words that reduce someone's confidence or the value of ideas or things
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How can belittling someone affect their feelings and confidence in the long term?
•Can you think of a time when you or someone else was belittled? How did it change the situation?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.When a teacher belittles a student's question, the student often feels ___ and ___ to speak again.
2.People sometimes belittle others to ___ themselves or feel more important.
3.Belittle is different from criticize because it focuses on making something seem ___ rather than just pointing out ___.
4.You should not belittle your own achievements by saying they are ___ or ___.
5.Critics who belittle a movie usually focus on ___ its story or value instead of giving fair ___.
6.When someone belittles your idea, they try to ___ its importance or ___ your confidence.
7.Belittling often happens with words that make someone feel ___ or ___ in a group.