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belittle

[bih-lit-l] / bɪˈlɪt l /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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That point is proved time and again, as editors scheme against each other, belittle each other’s literary taste and throw Batter under the bus whenever an opportunity arises.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

Both were quick to belittle the promises by their rival.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

As a Wisconsin grad, and something of a known jerk, my usual move here is to get snarky and belittle the University of Michigan’s brand new national championship in men’s basketball.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026

Some see the encounter between four-time major singles champion Sabalenka and Australia's former world number 13 Kyrgios as harmless entertainment, but others believe it could belittle the women's game if Sabalenka loses.

From BBC ● Dec. 11, 2025

Some people believed that Bobby was still stewing over the fact that he’d refused to play Karpov in 1975, and therefore was trying to belittle Karpov’s resulting match with Kasparov.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

“I think it belittles memory,” she says, wrinkling her nose in distaste at the still-standing house.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

“There will be no compromise with any party that challenges, belittles or violates Malaysian laws,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 22, 2023

Ibsen’s heroine, Nora, initially seems naïve and dependent on her husband, but she becomes disillusioned with how he controls and belittles her.

From New York Times ● Feb. 22, 2023

Even the word crisis doesn't do justice to what's happening and while disaster seems excessive, calamity belittles the enormity of what's going on.

From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2023

“Not monster movies. My sister, as usual, belittles my chosen medium. Want to know the tide?”

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

It is fascinating to me that Thomas, who genuinely feels belittled by every single thing that has ever happened to him, has somehow gotten smaller on the job.

From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2026

The person in front signals, “I’m in charge, you follow me,” while the one behind feels belittled.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

US President Donald Trump said Friday that Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a leftist his administration long belittled, will visit the White House next month as he voiced optimism for ties.

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

McCurry never belittled anyone, though occasionally the Bigfoot questions would cause other reporters to snicker.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2025

My brain remembered just how long I’d been ignored and belittled.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

In 1971, Steinem co-founded Ms. magazine, run exclusively by women, for women, and born from conversations with other women writers who’d grown exhausted with the belittling conventions and blind spots of male-dominated media.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Given that AI uses a tremendous amount of energy and water, public servants should be applying it towards solving society’s most intractable problems, not creating racist tropes or belittling people for exercising their democratic rights.

From Salon ● Nov. 29, 2025

And the teenage provocateur made no secret of that revulsion, loudly belittling his fellow students.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2025

They say Judge Philip Lancaster was belittling and intimidating and made them feel stupid while they presented their cases.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2024

It probably seemed like I was belittling a moment they'd been waiting years to experience.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi


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