Belittled

To belittle someone means to make them feel unimportant or insignificant; to diminish their accomplishments, worth, or contributions. It involves actions or words that undermine a person's confidence and self-esteem, often by trivializing their efforts or pointing out their flaws in a condescending manner. The act of belittling aims to reduce a person's perceived value, often driven by feelings of insecurity, jealousy, or a desire to exert power and control over others. This can manifest as subtle sarcasm, open criticism, or dismissive gestures, all contributing to a feeling of inadequacy in the individual being belittled.

Belittled meaning with examples

• She felt deeply belittled when her manager openly dismissed her carefully researched proposal during the team meeting, stating it was 'too theoretical' without offering any constructive criticism.
• The older sibling often belittled their younger sibling's artistic talent, calling their paintings 'childish scribbles' which discouraged them from pursuing their passion further.
• He consistently belittled her achievements in her career, suggesting that her success was due to luck or connections rather than her hard work and skill in the field.
• During the debate, the politician belittled their opponent's policy ideas, resorting to personal attacks and sarcastic remarks instead of addressing the substance of their arguments.