Words / C2

bi-LITL/bɪˈlɪtl/

To belittle is to make a person or achievement seem unimportant: belittle her work, belittle the risk. Diminish (already in the dictionary) is to make smaller; denigrate (already in the dictionary) is to blacken a reputation. Traduce (already in the dictionary) is to slander. Do not shrink a junior for asking where the date went.

Meaning

To make a person or thing seem unimportant.

Examples

• “Do not belittle a junior for asking where the date went.”
• “Diminish is to reduce (already in C1). Denigrate is to blacken (already in C2). Traduce is to slander (already in C2). A small question about a blank cell can still be the right one. Calling it “tone” is how the n stays empty. Answer the date; leave the status games.”

Good to know

Make seem unimportant. Everyday: put down. Close: diminish (already in C1). Contrast: denigrate / traduce (blacken or slander — already in C2). A date is not a status point.

Near in meaning

diminish, disparage, denigrate, minimise

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