VocabDictionary

belittled

/bɪˈlɪt.əld/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.adjective

Feeling dismissed, undervalued, or made to seem unimportant.

Example Sentences:
  • She felt belittled by her manager's dismissive comments during the meeting.
  • No one likes to feel belittled, especially when they have worked hard on a project.
2.verb

Past tense and past participle of belittle: made someone or something seem unimportant or of little value.

Example Sentences:
  • He belittled her achievements in front of the entire family.
  • The critic belittled the artist's new style as mere child's play.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “belittled”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1781 in his 'Notes on the State of Virginia' to describe how European writers minimized the natural wonders of America. It combines the prefix 'be-' (meaning 'to make' or 'thoroughly') with the adjective 'little'. Initially criticized by British critics as an unnecessary Americanism, it eventually became standard English.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of the word itself: to 'be' made to feel 'little'.

Frequently Asked Questions About “belittled

1. What is the meaning of “belittled” in English?

In English, belittled (adjective) is defined as: “Feeling dismissed, undervalued, or made to seem unimportant.”.

2. How do you use “belittled” in a sentence?

She felt belittled by her manager's dismissive comments during the meeting.

3. What are English synonyms of “belittled”?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “belittled”?

Coined by Thomas Jefferson in 1781 in his 'Notes on the State of Virginia' to describe how European writers minimized the natural wonders of America. It combines the prefix 'be-' (meaning 'to make' or 'thoroughly') with the adjective 'little'. Initially criticized by British critics as an unnecessary Americanism, it eventually became standard English.