disparage
/dɪsˈpæɹɪd͡ʒ/ · dis·par·age
noun
- Inequality in marriage; marriage with an inferior. In medieval legal texts, a disparage was often cited as a cause for annulment when one spouse was deemed socially inferior.
verb
- To match unequally; to degrade or dishonor. The coach disparaged the rookie by constantly comparing him unfavorably to seasoned veterans.
- To dishonor by a comparison with what is inferior; to lower in rank or estimation by actions or words; to speak slightingly of; to depreciate; to undervalue. She felt hurt when her colleague disparaged her contributions during the meeting.
- To ridicule, mock, discredit. The cartoonist disparaged the politician's policies with sharp satire.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? The noun sense of "disparage" referring to an unequal marriage appears only in early legal Latin texts and fell out of use, while the verb sense survived and flourished in English literature, notably in Shakespeare's works.