Disparage

verb (transitive)

/dɪˈspærɪdʒ/

To speak of someone or something in a slighting or belittling way; to represent as being of little worth or to unjustly undervalue.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

A mature democracy must allow vigorous dissent without permitting public figures to disparage constitutional institutions in ways that erode citizens' faith in the rule of law.

Synonyms

belittledenigratedeprecatedecrydemeanvilify

Antonyms

praiseextolcommendlaud

🌱 Word Family

disparaged (v past), disparaging (v pres.p), disparagingly (adv), disparagement (n), disparager (n)

🔡 Root

Old French desparagier; des- = away + parage = rank, lineage; Latin par = equal

📜 Etymology

From Old French desparagier "to marry someone of unequal/inferior rank, degrade," from des- "away" + parage "rank, lineage" (ultimately from Latin par "equal"); the sense "belittle, undervalue" emerged by the 1530s.

🧠 Memory Hook

Think "dis-" + "par" (as in golf's "par" = standard): to disparage is to push someone below par, below their equal rank — the root par "equal" sits inside the word.

👥 Society 📖 Seen in: Salient Features of Indian Society — D...

Tip: press Alt+S to hear pronunciation