Disparage
/dɪˈspærɪdʒ/
verbC1
Definition
To disparage means to say negative or unkind things about a person, idea, or thing, often making them seem less valuable or less good than they really are. It usually shows disrespect or criticism.
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See It in Action
To speak negatively about someone or something to lower their reputation
- •The critic disparaged the new book, saying it lacked originality.
- •She felt hurt when her work was disparaged by her colleagues.
- •Politicians often disparage their opponents during debates.
To express disrespect or belittle someone or something
- •It is wrong to disparage others just because they have different opinions.
- •The advertisement disparaged the competitor’s product unfairly.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "disparage" like "say bad things," but with a formal or serious tone that makes something look smaller or less important
- ✓Picture someone quietly putting down another person’s work, like whispering "this is not good" behind their back
- ✓It’s the feeling when someone talks about your favorite movie as if it is not worth watching
- ✓Sounds like "dis-PARR-idge" → imagine a pair (PARR sounds like pair) of scissors cutting down someone’s reputation little by little
- ✓Think of a story where a character tries to make others feel bad by saying mean things about their talents or ideas
- ✓NOT like "complain" (which is about personal feelings), "disparage" is about lowering someone’s value or respect in public or serious talk
- ✓NOT like "praise" (say good things), "disparage" means the opposite, to put down or criticize strongly
Try Other Words
- •Belittle: to make someone or something seem small or unimportant (Use when you want to show that something is made to look less important)
- •Criticize: to say what is wrong or bad about someone or something (Use when focusing on faults or problems)
- •Discredit: to harm the reputation or trust in someone or something (Use when the goal is to make people not believe or trust)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "dis-" (a negative or opposite force)
- •Root: "parage" from Old French "parage" meaning equality or rank
- •Etymology: From Latin and Old French, originally meaning to put down someone's rank or status
- •Historical development: Used since the 1400s to mean lowering someone’s social or personal value by words
- •Modern usage: Common in formal speech and writing to describe disrespect or negative talk that lowers reputation
Reflect & Connect
•How can words that disparage others affect relationships or teamwork?
•In what situations might someone disparage an idea instead of discussing it respectfully?
Fill in the blanks
1.People often disparage others when they feel ___ or jealous.
2.When a product is disparaged in reviews, customers may ___ buying it.
3.Disparage is different from criticize because it usually means to ___ someone’s value, not just point out small faults.
4.Politicians sometimes disparage their opponents to ___ their own chances of winning.
5.It is important not to disparage others’ opinions, even if you ___ disagree.
6.When someone disparages your work, it can make you feel ___ or less confident.
7.Advertisements that disparage competitors usually try to ___ their own product as better.