| Main Entry: | belittle |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | detract |
Synonyms: |
bad-mouth, blister, criticize, cut down to size, cut to the quick, decry, deprecate, depreciate, deride, derogate, diminish, discount, discredit, disparage, dispraise, downgrade, downplay, dump on, knock*, lower, minimize, pan, pooh pooh, poor mouth, put down, rip*, roast, run down, scoff at, scorch*, scorn, shoot down, shoot full of holes, slam*, smear, sneer at, sour grapes, squash, squelch, take a swipe at, take down, take down a peg, tear down, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, write off |
Antonyms: |
build up, exaggerate, praise, value |
| Main Entry: | explode |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | discredit |
Synonyms: |
belie, confute, debunk, deflate, discard, disprove, invalidate, puncture, refute, repudiate, shoot down, shoot full of holes |
| Notes: | explode is to blow up from a confined area outwards; implode means blow inwards, as a lightbulb does when it burns out |
Antonyms: |
prove |
| Main Entry: | invalidate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | render null and void |
Synonyms: |
X-out, abate, abolish, abrogate, annihilate, annul, blow sky-high, cancel, circumduct, counteract, counterbalance, disannul, discredit, disqualify, impair, negate, negative, neutralize, nix, nullify, offset, overrule, overthrow, quash, refute, revoke, shoot full of holes, undermine, undo, unfit, weaken |
Antonyms: |
approve, permit, validate |
| Main Entry: | perforate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make a hole in |
Synonyms: |
bore, drill, drive, hole, honeycomb, penetrate, permeate, pierce, pit, poke full of holes, probe, punch, puncture, shoot full of holes, slit, stab |
Antonyms: |
close up |
| Main Entry: | puncture |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | deflate someone's idea, feelings |
Synonyms: |
blow sky high, discourage, discredit, disillusion, disprove, explode, flatten, humble, knock bottom out, knock props from under, poke full of holes, shoot full of holes, take down a peg, take wind out of sails |
Antonyms: |
build up |
| Main Entry: | refute |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | prove false; discredit |
Synonyms: |
abnegate, argue against, blow sky high, break, burn, burn down, cancel, cancel out, confute, contend, contradict, contravene, convict, counter, crush, debate, demolish, disclaim, disconfirm, dispose of, disprove, dispute, evert, explode, expose, gainsay, give the lie to, give thumbs down to, invalidate, negate, oppose, overthrow, parry, quash, rebut, reply to, repudiate, shoot down, shoot full of holes, show up, silence, squelch, take a stand against, tear down, top* |
Antonyms: |
endorse, prove, ratify, sanction, support |