belittling

Thân thiện

A coworker makes a belittling remark during a team meeting.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Tending to diminish or disparage: Describing words, actions, or attitudes that make someone or something seem less important, valuable, or impressive.

2. Noun:

   • The act of belittling: The action or behavior of making someone or something seem less significant or worthy.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • His belittling tone made her feel incompetent.
  • She was tired of his constant belittling remarks about her work.

• Noun:

  • The constant belittling from her supervisor affected her confidence.
  • Belittling is a form of emotional abuse.

Advanced Usage

• As a gerund (verbal noun): The "-ing" form can function purely as a noun.
  • His belittling of others is a sign of his own insecurity.
• In formal or psychological contexts: Often used to describe a specific type of negative communication or behavior.
  • The study focused on the effects of parental belittling on child development.

Variants and Related Words

• Belittle (verb): To make someone or something seem less impressive or important.
  • He tends to belittle his colleagues' achievements.
• Belittler (noun): A person who habitually belittles others.
  • He was known as a belittler who undermined his team.

Synonyms

• Disparaging: Expressing the opinion that something is of little worth.
• Deprecating: Expressing disapproval or playing down the value of something.
• Derogatory: Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
• Diminishing: Making something seem less important.
• Slighting: Insulting by treating with disrespect or indifference.

Antonyms

• Complimentary: Expressing praise or admiration.
• Flattering: Full of praise and compliments.
• Laudatory: Expressing praise and commendation.
• Respectful: Showing deference and esteem.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To talk down to someone: To speak to someone as if they are less intelligent or experienced than you, which is a form of belittling.
  • The manager talks down to his employees, which creates a poor work environment.
• To make light of something: To treat something as unimportant or trivial, often belittling its significance.
  • He made light of her concerns, which only made her more upset.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. tending to diminish or disparage
   • belittling comments
   • managed a deprecating smile at the compliment
   • deprecatory remarks about the book
   • a slighting remark

Noun

1. the act of belittling
2. a belittling comment

Từ đồng nghĩa

• deprecating
• deprecative
• deprecatory
• depreciative
• depreciatory
• slighting
• denigration