Word
belittling
Phoneticsbe·lit·tling
US/bɪˈɫɪtəɫɪŋ/
UK/bɪlˈɪtlɪŋ/
Definition
adj. making someone feel small or unimportant, often with unkind words or a cold tone. You use it to describe comments or behaviour that lower someone's confidence.
adj. causing a person to feel small, unimportant, or without value, typically through contemptuous words, tone, or behaviour. Often describes remarks or attitudes that diminish another person's confidence or status.
Examples
“His belittling comments hurt her feelings.”
“Her manager's belittling tone in meetings makes new staff afraid to ask questions.”
“The novel captures the slow damage of a belittling marriage, where constant small jokes leave the wife doubting her own worth.”
Examples
simple
“His belittling comments hurt her feelings.”
contextual
“Her manager's belittling tone in meetings makes new staff afraid to ask questions.”
complex
“The novel captures the slow damage of a belittling marriage, where constant small jokes leave the wife doubting her own worth.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “belittling” in context.
Verb
01. belittling erodes
“Daily belittling erodes trust within a team very quickly.”
adj + verb
02. belittling lowers
“Belittling lowers morale and stops people sharing ideas.”
adj + verb
03. belittling undermines
“Constant belittling undermines children's confidence at school.”
adj + verb
04. consider belittling
“They considered the manager's remarks belittling and unfair.”
verb + adj
05. find belittling
“Many students found his feedback harsh and belittling.”
verb + adj
Adjective
06. deeply belittling
“His deeply belittling reply embarrassed her in front of the whole class.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. belittling attitude
“His belittling attitude towards waiters really shocked us.”
adj + noun
08. belittling comment
“Nobody laughed at his belittling comment about her clothes.”
adj + noun
09. belittling remark
“She ignored his belittling remark and continued her presentation.”
adj + noun
10. belittling tone
“Please don't speak to me in that belittling tone.”
adj + noun
11. adopt a belittling attitude
“If you adopt a belittling attitude, staff will soon stop trusting you.”
12. find his tone belittling
“Many colleagues find his tone belittling and disrespectful.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies ('belittling remarks'); also used after 'be' to describe tone or behaviour.
Pitfall
I felt belittling
I felt belittled
Belittling describes the words or person that cause the feeling; belittled describes the person who feels small.
Real-World Examples
“The sound, she realised, was just like the typewriter used by her character, a married secretary who is constantly belittled and sexually harassed by her boss.” “When Ben progresses from treating him coldly to getting a girlfriend then belittling him when they are together, Nick comes to the rescue, and their friendship slowly builds towards something else.” “What we are just beginning to comprehend is that belittling and undermining women is a pervasive and costly issue.” “Once belittled by rivals, he now revels in the fact that they all compete to prove their cloud computing credentials.” Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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