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disparage

Verb

IPA /dɪˈspærɪdʒ/

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Meaning in plain English

To speak about someone or something as if they have little value, importance or ability, often in an unfair way.

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Pronunciation

disparage/dɪˈspærɪdʒ/

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Someone presents careful work
A critic dismisses its value unfairly
The work is made to seem unimportant

To disparage work is to speak about it as if it has little value.

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Examples in context

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Please do not disparage his cooking before you have tasted it.
The reviewer disparaged the study without addressing its main findings.

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Please do not ________ his cooking before you have tasted it.

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disparage — To speak about someone or something as if they have little value, importance or ability, often in an unfair way.

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To speak about someone or something as if they have little value, importance or ability, often in an unfair way.

Compare: Please do not disparage his cooking before you have tasted it.

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Word origin

From Old French desparagier, ultimately related to Latin par, meaning equal.

Did you know?

Disparage concerns making something seem less valuable; it does not mean proving it false.

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