as in dismissed
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
belittled the action star's acting ability
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of belittled
The president belittled Bray on social media and threatened to support a primary challenger, and still Bray wouldn’t budge.
—
Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
According to the suit, she was humiliated by fellow staff members and belittled due to her race, country of origin, religion and immigration status.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Unlike some of her contemporaries (say, Lauryn Hill), Missy never rejected or belittled explicit markers of femme subjectivity.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
The president relentlessly criticized and belittled Powell, attempting to blame him for some of the discontent over the economy that followed the president’s own tariff announcements.
—Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Paxton and Hunt belittled Cornyn’s border appearance.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The bride shared that the moment left her feeling belittled, even as guests laughed along.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Instead of being celebrated as trailblazers, these women are mocked by the press, underestimated by their colleagues, and belittled by society at large.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
According to the suit, she was humiliated by fellow staff members and belittled due to her race, country of origin, religion and immigration status.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Unlike some of her contemporaries (say, Lauryn Hill), Missy never rejected or belittled explicit markers of femme subjectivity.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
What a disappointment to have something so joyous tarnished by a dreadful reality where women are being belittled & disrespected for existing.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 25 Feb. 2026
The president relentlessly criticized and belittled Powell, attempting to blame him for some of the discontent over the economy that followed the president’s own tariff announcements.
—Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Paxton and Hunt belittled Cornyn’s border appearance.
—Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The bride shared that the moment left her feeling belittled, even as guests laughed along.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Instead of being celebrated as trailblazers, these women are mocked by the press, underestimated by their colleagues, and belittled by society at large.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belittled
Verb
-
That lawsuit was dismissed in December.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
For business leaders and investors, the May 20 vote should not be dismissed as symbolic diplomacy.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The team concluded the term more accurately reflects the condition’s endocrine, metabolic and reproductive features while helping reduce misunderstanding for patients who have long felt their diagnosis was minimized.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
-
The fire was extinguished on the roof, and damage was minimized.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Another theory suggests regulatory changes in China a few years ago appear to have diminished the availability of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl.—
Mike Stobbe,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
The roles of China and Russia, as Iran’s allies, are strengthened; the role of the United States, substantially diminished.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Other candidates have criticized her and expressed their support for LGBTQ+ students — Rendon perhaps most pointedly.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
-
Owens, who has frequently criticized Hunter Biden and his family over his business dealings, drug addiction, and the controversy surrounding his laptop, previewed a wide-ranging discussion touching on addiction, politics, faith, and Washington’s political culture.—
Adisa Hargett-Robinson,
The Washington Examiner,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
It’s also been disparaged as a frivolous bagatelle.—
Patricia Mears,
Air Mail,
9 May 2026
-
Many early critics have disparaged the film for being a confusing, melodramatic, metaphysical mess.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At a time when Black American culture is being reviled and denigrated throughout much of public life, this unapologetic expression of joy in outdoor winter activities is an enduring tribute to the resilience of people whose pursuit of happiness will not be denied.—
James Edward Mills,
Outside,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Musk and Tesla have denigrated the use of radar and lidar sensors, which are integral parts of the systems used by Waymo and most other self-drivers.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Belittled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belittled. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
