vilipend

vil·i·pend  (vl-pnd)

tr.v. vil·i·pend·ed, vil·i·pend·ing, vil·i·pends

1. To view or treat with contempt; despise.

2. To speak ill of; disparage.

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[Middle English vilipenden, from Old French vilipender, from Latin vlipendere : vlis, worthless; see wes-³ in Indo-European roots + pendere, to consider, weigh; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]

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vilipend [ˈvɪlɪˌpɛnd]

vb (tr) Rare

1. to treat or regard with contempt

2. to speak slanderously or slightingly of

[from Late Latin vīlipendere, from Latin vīlis worthless + pendere to esteem]

vilipender  n

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

vilipend - belittle; "The teacher should not deprecate his student's efforts" depreciate, deprecate disparage, belittle, pick at - express a negative opinion of; "She disparaged her student's efforts" deflate, puncture - reduce or lessen the size or importance of; "The bad review of his work deflated his self-confidence"