disparagement

UK: /dɪˈspærɪdʒmənt/ US: (di spar′ij mənt)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•par•age•ment  (di spar′ij mənt), n. 

1. the act of disparaging.
2. something that derogates or casts in a bad light, as a remark or censorious essay.

• Anglo-French, Middle French desparagement, equivalent. to desparag(ier) to disparage + -ment -ment
• 1480–90

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•par•age /dɪˈspærɪdʒ/   v. [ ~ + obj], -aged, -ag•ing. 

1. to belittle, ridicule, or discredit:
   Don't disparage his attempts to become a doctor.

dis•par•age•ment, n. [uncountable]
dis•par•ag•ing, adj.: 

disparaging remarks.

See -par-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•par•age  (di spar′ij), v.t., -aged, -ag•ing. 

1. to speak of or treat slightingly;
   depreciate;
   belittle:
   Do not disparage good manners.
2. to bring reproach or discredit upon;
   lower the estimation of:
   Your behavior will disparage the whole family.

• Latin parāre; see peer¹) + -age -age
• Anglo-French, Old French desparag(i)er to match unequally, equivalent. to des- dis-¹ + -parag(i)er, derivative of parage equality, equivalent. to par(er) to equalize (
• Middle English 1250–1300

dis•par′ag•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. ridicule, discredit, mock, demean, denounce, derogate.