disparage
gb/dɪspˈɛɹɪd͡ʒ/ us/dɪspˈɛɹɪd͡ʒ/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
speak about as not good
to say bad things about someone or something
Usage pattern:
disparage [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Often confused with discourage (to make someone less confident). Disparage means to criticize or belittle.
Synonyms
belittle (Emphasizes making someone or something seem small or unimportant.)
|
denigrate (Often suggests stronger, more deliberate damage to reputation.)
|
run down (More informal; common in speech.)
|
deride (Adds an idea of mockery or scorn.)
Antonyms
praise (To speak positively and express approval.)
|
compliment (To say something admiring about a person or thing.)
|
commend (More formal; to praise publicly or officially.)
Collocations
disparage someone
|disparage something
|disparage the work
|disparage the idea
|disparage a colleague
|disparage the competition
|disparage their efforts
|publicly disparage
|disparage in public
|disparage openly
Themes
communication
|opinions
|relationships
Examples
- It’s unfair to disparage her work when you haven’t read it.
- He kept disparaging the new policy without offering any alternatives.
- The coach told players not to disparage the opposing team.
Learner examples
- Please don’t disparage my idea.
- She felt hurt when he disparaged her accent.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
make something seem less valuable
to make something seem less important or less good
Usage pattern:
disparage [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may use it for simple disagreement; it implies a negative judgment that lowers value or status.
Synonyms
devalue (Focuses on reducing value, sometimes in an abstract or economic sense.)
|
downgrade (Often used for official or formal re-evaluation (e.g., ratings).)
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minimize (Emphasizes making something seem smaller or less significant.)
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discredit (Focuses on making something seem untrustworthy or not believable.)
Antonyms
value (To consider something important or worthwhile.)
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appreciate (To recognize the good qualities or importance of something.)
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highlight (To emphasize the importance or advantages.)
Collocations
disparage the achievements
|disparage the results
|disparage the value
|disparage the importance
|disparage the contribution
|disparage the impact
|disparage the quality
|disparage the role
|disparage the benefits
|disparage success
Themes
communication
|evaluation
|work
Examples
- She didn’t want to disparage the team’s progress, but the numbers were still weak.
- The report disparaged the benefits of remote work and focused only on the risks.
- It’s possible to discuss the drawbacks without disparaging the overall project.
Learner examples
- Don’t disparage his contribution to the project.
Grammar
Dictionary form
disparage
IPA
GB/dɪspˈɛɹɪd͡ʒ/
US/dɪspˈɛɹɪd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
dis - par - age (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (par)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: disparage
- 3rd Person Singular: disparages
- Present Participle: disparaging
- Past: disparaged
Word family
Forms
disparages
verb
disparaging
verb
disparaged
verb
Core family
disparagement
noun C1
Related words
disparagingly
adverb C1
Expressions
not to disparage [someone/something], but ...
1/nˈɑt tə dɪspˈɛɹɪd͡ʒ sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ | bˈʌt |/
fixed phrase
formal
polite preface to criticism
used before saying something negative, to sound polite
Examples
- Not to disparage your plan, but the budget doesn’t support it.
- Not to disparage her skills, but she’s new to this role.
- Not to disparage the restaurant, but the service was slow.
without meaning to disparage [someone/something]
1/wɪðˈaʊt mˈinɪŋ tə dɪspˈɛɹɪd͡ʒ sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
apology for possible insult
used to say you don’t want to insult someone
Examples
- Without meaning to disparage anyone, I think we need more experience on the team.
- Without meaning to disparage the earlier research, this study uses better data.
- He said, without meaning to disparage her, that she seemed unprepared.