# belittling

/bɪˈɫɪtəɫɪŋ/ (US) · /bɪlˈɪtlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/belittling
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Synonyms

disparaging, demean, condescending, derogatory, degrading, humiliating, deprecate

## Antonyms

complimentary, encouraging, supportive, praising

## Pitfalls

- Not "I felt belittling" but "I felt belittled" — Belittling describes the words or person that cause the feeling; belittled describes the person who feels small.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies ('belittling remarks'); also used after 'be' to describe tone or behaviour.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.