Disparagement

dis·par·age  (d-sprj)

tr.v. dis·par·aged, dis·par·ag·ing, dis·par·ag·es

1. To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle. See Synonyms at decry.

2. To reduce in esteem or rank.

---

[Middle English disparagen, to degrade, from Old French desparager : des-, dis- + parage, high birth (from per, peer; see peer²).]

---

dis·parage·ment n.

dis·parag·er n.

dis·parag·ing·ly adv.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	disparagement - a communication that belittles somebody or something derogation, depreciation effeminacy, effeminateness, sissiness, unmanliness, womanishness, softness - the trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man); "the students associated science with masculinity and arts with effeminacy"; "Spartans accused Athenians of effeminateness"; "he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him" discourtesy, disrespect - an expression of lack of respect cold water - disparagement of a plan or hope or expectation; "she poured cold water on the whole idea of going to Africa" belittling, denigration - a belittling comment aspersion, slur - a disparaging remark; "in the 19th century any reference to female sexuality was considered a vile aspersion"; "it is difficult for a woman to understand a man's sensitivity to any slur on his virility" detraction, petty criticism - a petty disparagement sour grapes - disparagement of something that is unattainable condescension, disdain, patronage - a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, traducement, obloquy - a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions darkey, darkie, darky - (ethnic slur) offensive term for Black people boy - (ethnic slur) offensive and disparaging term for Black man; "get out of my way, boy" jigaboo, nigga, nigger, nigra, coon, spade - (ethnic slur) extremely offensive name for a Black person; "only a Black can call another Black a nigga" Tom, Uncle Tom - (ethnic slur) offensive and derogatory name for a Black man who is abjectly servile and deferential to Whites paleface - (slang) a derogatory term for a white person (supposedly used by North American Indians) poor white trash, white trash - (slang) an offensive term for White people who are impoverished honkey, honkie, honky, whitey - (slang) offensive names for a White man coolie, cooly - (ethnic slur) an offensive name for an unskilled Asian laborer Oriental, oriental person - a member of an Oriental race; the term is regarded as offensive by Asians (especially by Asian Americans) yellow man - offensive term for an Asian man yellow woman - offensive term for an Asian woman slant-eye, gook - (slang) a disparaging term for an Asian person (especially for North Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War) Injun, red man, Redskin - (slang) offensive term for Native Americans papist - an offensive term for Roman Catholics; originally, a Roman Catholic who was a strong advocate of the papacy hymie, kike, sheeny, yid - (ethnic slur) offensive term for a Jew Chinaman, chink - (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent Mick, Mickey, Paddy - (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Irish descent dago, ginzo, greaseball, wop, Guinea - (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Italian descent Jap, Nip - (offensive slang) offensive term for a person of Japanese descent spic, spick, spik - (ethnic slur) offensive term for persons of Latin American descent greaser, taco, wetback - (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Mexican descent Boche, Jerry, Kraut, Krauthead, Hun - offensive term for a person of German descent butch, dike, dyke - (slang) offensive term for a lesbian who is noticeably masculine fag, faggot, fagot, poof, poove, pouf, nance, queer, fairy, pansy, queen - offensive term for an openly homosexual man half-caste - an offensive term for the offspring of parents of different races or cultures
	2.	disparagement - the act of speaking contemptuously of dispraise disapproval - the act of disapproving or condemning belittling - the act of belittling deprecation, denigration - the act of expressing disapproval (especially of yourself) detraction - the act of discrediting or detracting from someone's reputation (especially by slander); "let it be no detraction from his merits to say he is plainspoken"