To make someone feel small, unimportant, or ashamed; to treat someone as though they matter less than they do.
From 'be-' (a prefix meaning to make or cause) + 'little.' The word combines Old English elements with a Germanic root. It emerged in English around the 17th century to describe the act of diminishing someone's importance or value.
The prefix 'be-' is a linguistic multiplier—words like 'befriend,' 'besmirch,' and 'beguile' all use it to turn a simple word into an action. 'Belittle' literally means 'to make little,' and psychologists now recognize belittling as a form of emotional abuse even though it seems like mild language!
Dismissing women's competence and concerns ('hysterical,' 'bossy,' 'emotional') enabled their exclusion from medicine, law, and science. The term 'belittle' itself reflects a pattern of institutional diminishment.
Recognize belittling as harm; use it clinically when analyzing bias. Advocate against gendered dismissal.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.