| Main Entry: | decry |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize, blame |
Synonyms: |
abuse, asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, calumniate, censure, condemn, cry down, defame, denounce, depreciate, derogate, detract, devalue, diminish, discount, discredit, disgrace, disparage, do a number on, downgrade, dump on, hit*, knock*, lower, malign, mark down, minimize, opprobriate, pan, poor-mouth, put down, rail against, rap, reprehend, reprobate, run down, slam*, take away, take swipe at, throw stones at, traduce, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, vilify, write off |
Antonyms: |
applaud, compliment, exalt, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | demean |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | humble, humiliate |
Synonyms: |
abase, bad-mouth, belittle, bemean, cast down, contemn, cut down to size, cut rate, debase, decry, degrade, derogate, descend, despise, detract, dis, disparage, dump on, knock down, lower, pan, poor-mouth, scorn, sink, stoop |
Antonyms: |
boost, enhance, improve, upgrade |
| Main Entry: | diminish |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle |
Synonyms: |
abuse, bad-mouth, cheapen, cut down to size, decry, demean, depreciate, derogate, detract from, devalue, dispraise, dump on, give comeuppance, knock off high horse, minimize, pan, poormouth, put away, put down*, run down, tear down |
Antonyms: |
compliment, flatter, praise |
| Main Entry: | minimize |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make smaller; underrate |
Synonyms: |
abbreviate, attenuate, belittle, cheapen, curtail, cut down to size, cut rate, decrease, decry, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, downplay*, dwarf*, knock down, knock*, lessen, make light of, make little of, miniaturize, pan, play down, pooh-pooh, poor-mouth, prune, put down, reduce, run down, shrink, underestimate, underplay |
| Notes: | reduce means to cut down on; minimize means to make small or insignificant or represent as less important |
Antonyms: |
enlarge, maximize, overestimate, overrate |
| Main Entry: | smear |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | tarnish a reputation |
Synonyms: |
asperse, bad-mouth, befoul, besmirch, blacken, blackguard, blister, calumniate, defame, defile, denigrate, discolor, drag through mud, give a black eye, hit*, libel, malign, pan, poor-mouth, rap, rip up, scorch*, slam*, slander, sling mud, slur, sully, taint, traduce, vilify |
Antonyms: |
honor, laud, upgrade |