Belittling

B2 16+

Pronunciation: /bɪˈlɪt.lɪŋ/

Definitions of belittling

verb to make someone or something seem less impressive or important

Example Sentences

A1 She felt hurt when her friend kept belittling her achievements.

A2 The coach was criticized for belittling the efforts of the team.

B1 The teacher was warned for belittling the students in front of the class.

B2 His constant belittling of his colleagues led to a toxic work environment.

C1 The politician's belittling remarks towards his opponents were widely condemned.

C2 The journalist faced backlash for belittling the importance of investigative reporting.

adjective showing a lack of respect for someone or something

Example Sentences

A1 She felt belittling remarks from her classmates.

A2 The teacher's belittling tone made the student feel small.

B1 The manager's belittling comments created a negative work environment.

B2 The article contained belittling language towards certain cultural groups.

C1 The politician's belittling attitude towards his opponents was widely criticized.

C2 The author's belittling portrayal of the protagonist was seen as a controversial artistic choice.

Examples of belittling in a Sentence

formal Her constant belittling remarks towards her colleagues created a toxic work environment.

informal Stop belittling me in front of our friends, it's embarrassing.

slang I can't stand her belittling attitude, it's so annoying.

figurative The dark clouds belittling the sun's brightness symbolized the protagonist's inner turmoil.

Grammatical Forms of belittling

past tense

belittled

plural

belittlings

comparative

more belittling

superlative

most belittling

present tense

belittles

future tense

will belittle

perfect tense

have belittled

continuous tense

is belittling

singular

belittling

positive degree

belittling

infinitive

to belittle

gerund

belittling

participle

belittled

Origin and Evolution of belittling

First Known Use: 1797 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The word 'belittling' originated from the combination of the prefix 'be-' meaning 'to make' or 'cause to be' and the word 'little' meaning 'small'.
Evolution of the word: Initially, 'belittling' was used to describe the act of making something seem less important or valuable. Over time, it has evolved to also encompass the idea of diminishing someone's worth or importance through words or actions.