DISPARAGING Synonyms: 133 Similar and Opposite Words

disparaging 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈsper-i-jiŋ

Definition of disparaging

as in slighting

intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value disparaging comments about the lack of talent among the musical performers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disparaging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of disparage

as in dismissing

to express scornfully one's low opinion of disparaged polo as a sport for the idle rich

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of disparaging

Adjective

Felix points to Trump’s disparaging and false comments against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, which put a target on the back of many Haitian immigrants. — Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026 The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president. — Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026 Conservative pundit Meghan McCain blasted commentator Tucker Carlson after a guest on his podcast and online show this week made a disparaging remark about her weight. — Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2025 Emily’s father didn’t say it in a disparaging way—more like That was just Ryan. — Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025 And there would be lots of soldiers around, either Army or National Guard, and the people who were civilians would be young people, very disparaging about the military. — Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025 The 2023 Economic Report Of The President published in March of 2023 was relatively disparaging of cryptoassets and DLTs. — Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 Prior to appearing on Cunningham's show on Monday, Huggins made more disparaging remarks about Xavier. — Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 10 May 2023 As a former prosecutor in New York City and a professor of law at West Point, Tim Bakken believes that most people find solace in casting the most disparaging label possible upon an adversary. — Howard Manly, The Conversation, 20 Dec. 2022

Verb

Other negative ads suggested El-Sayed had made disparaging comments about Michelle Obama. — Michael Traugott, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026 Miller and Graham ultimately signed a nondisclosure agreement in 2023 with an understanding that each would refrain from publicly disparaging the other. — Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026 The case was later dropped after both sides signed a nondisclosure agreement barring them from publicly disparaging one another. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 According to Grisham’s complaint, their agreement prohibited either party from making disparaging statements. — Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026 The Cockroach movement – named in the wake of a disparaging comment India’s chief justice made about unemployed youth – is now taking a breather, preparing, its leaders say, to throw its weight behind other issues affecting young Indians. — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 30 July 2026 The judge also reiterated an earlier order for neither Mortensen nor Taylor to make disparaging remarks about the other on social media. — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 Any athlete chatting with a fan in disparaging ways about another player shows questionable judgment. — Jason Jones, New York Times, 12 July 2026 The president sued the Times last year, accusing it of defaming him, disparaging his reputation and seeking to undermine his 2024 candidacy. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disparaging

Adjective

At the end of the last cruise, everyone shunned me, except for Roy, who instead was cruel and insulting to me.

— Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
This struck Stevens and her allies as immature, insulting, and more than a little sexist.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of insulting

Verb

In the filing, the Justice Department urged the appeals court to reverse the Tennessee federal judge’s ruling dismissing criminal charges against Abrego Garcia.

— Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
The book resuscitates the childhood feeling that most of us spend our lives tamping down and dismissing, if not completely extinguishing.

— Chris Ware, The New York Review of Books, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismissing

Adjective

In June 2022, protesters shouting derogatory comments about the LGBTQ+ community tried to force their way into Mojo’s Lounge & Bar, less than a block south of Corner Drug, after threats prompted the downtown Woodland business to cancel a drag event.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026
State Farm Arena policy prohibits clothing displaying explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterizations, while the NBA Fan Code of Conduct prohibits obscene or indecent messages on clothing.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of derogatory

Verb

That’s no problem for them, because the failures occur years after the discussions, minimizing the political risk to those who voted for these misguided plans.

— Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
Patagonia, for example, has long organized itself around a commitment to minimizing its impact on the planet.

— Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of minimizing

Verb

In the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, France's initial mediating role gave way to a pro-Armenia stance, alienating Baku and diminishing its leverage with Yerevan, which now increasingly favors the US.

— Kamran Bokhari, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
During Anahulu Ho Emi, the third and final phase, the focus is diminishing, surrendering and reflecting.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminishing

Adjective

By suggesting that Black women would willingly place their own children in mortal danger for profit, such narratives provided yet another means of humiliating, degrading and dehumanizing African Americans.

— The Conversation, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
With fracking — which is already outlawed on offshore platforms in California waters, and is widely viewed as an environmentally degrading and often risky process — Gilda’s production would jump to about 4,000 barrels a day.

— Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of degrading

Verb

Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2026
McCain has often spoken out against the British royal family and Markle, in particular, routinely criticizing her on the Happy Hour talk series during the 2025 release of Markle’s docuseries With Love, Meghan.

— Mariel Turner, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticizing

Browse Nearby Words

disparages

disparaging

disparagingly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Disparaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disparaging. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of disparaging

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on disparaging

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

expeditious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes