Deprecatingly

Deprecatingly, as an adverb, describes a manner or tone characterized by expressing disapproval or belittlement, often subtly, of someone or something. It can involve diminishing the perceived value or worth of something. The word suggests a sense of putting down, finding fault with, or showing a lack of respect. This action is generally done with the intention of either criticizing or showing humility. The key is to indicate disapproval or a negative judgement. It does not necessarily indicate an active act of causing another to act negatively. Often used in social settings, deprecatingly suggests an indirect display of superiority (in subtle ways). Often the term is also used to showcase humbleness or self-disparagement. It suggests someone who is not feeling overly positive and may be looking to the negative.

Deprecatingly meaning with examples

• After spilling his coffee on the client, he looked at the stain deprecatingly and mumbled, "Oh dear, that was terribly clumsy of me." He made an assessment of himself by belittling his actions, in an effort to lessen any damage and show that he was aware of his error.
• She chuckled deprecatingly when her friend complimented her dress, saying, “Oh, this old thing? I just grabbed it from the clearance rack.” She gave an indication that she did not value her outfit highly and thus devalued the compliment given to her from the friend.
• The critic, looking deprecatingly at the artist's new painting, said, “It's certainly… bold.” The critic gave no outright negative statements, but indicated a dissatisfaction that belittled the work.
• He spoke deprecatingly of his own accomplishments, attributing his success to luck rather than skill, in a bid to appear humble. This use indicates that the person being assessed feels negative of themselves, and perhaps is worried about coming across as arrogant.