Definition of DISPARAGED (original) (raw)
1
: to belittle the importance or value of (someone or something) : to speak slightingly about (someone or something)
religious beliefs disparaged as superstition
… drew fire this month for disparaging the company's theme parks as "cheap day-care centers for teenagers" …—
Lisa Fickenscher
2
: to lower (someone or something) in rank or reputation : degrade
Mr Miles said changing the hospital's name was not designed to disparage the name or recognition of Lady Cilento.—Lucy Stone
Did you know?
In Middle English, to "disparage" someone meant causing that person to marry someone of inferior rank. Disparage derives from the Anglo-French word desparager, meaning "to marry below one's class." Desparager, in turn, combines the negative prefix des- with parage (meaning "equality" or "lineage"), which itself comes from per, meaning "peer." The original "marriage" sense of disparage is now obsolete, but a closely-related sense (meaning "to lower in rank or reputation") survives in modern English. By the 16th century, English speakers (including William Shakespeare) were also using disparage to mean simply "to belittle."
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for disparage
decried their defeatist attitude
depreciate implies a representing as being of less value than commonly believed.
critics depreciate his plays for being unabashedly sentimental
disparage implies depreciation by indirect means such as slighting or invidious comparison.
disparaged polo as a game for the rich
belittle usually suggests a contemptuous or envious attitude.
belittled the achievements of others
Examples of disparage in a Sentence
Voters don't like political advertisements in which opponents disparage one another. It's a mistake to disparage their achievements. The article disparaged polo as a game for the wealthy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Republican senators have disparaged anonymous critics of Hegseth. —Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2025 The president-elect has long disparaged renewable energy and vowed to pursue policies favorable to the fossil fuel industry in his second term. —Zack Budryk, The Hill, 7 Jan. 2025 For his part, Trump has no shortage of disparaging remarks about women. —David Sterling Brown, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025 There’s this Trump rally at Madison Square Garden and a comedian, Tony Hinchcliffe, makes his disparaging comments about Puerto Rico. —Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for disparage 
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, to degrade by marriage below one's class, disparage, from Anglo-French desparager to marry below one's class, from des- dis- + parage equality, lineage, from per peer
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of disparage was in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near disparage
Cite this Entry
“Disparage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disparage. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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Last Updated: 17 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences
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