| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | oust |
| Synonyms: | degrade, depose, discrown, dismiss, displace, uncrown, unmake |
| Antonyms: | crown, enthrone, put in power |
| Main Entry: | disgrace |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | bring shame upon |
| Synonyms: | abase, attaint, besmirch, blot, debase, defame, defile, degrade, depress, deride, derogate, desecrate, discredit, disfavor, dishonor, disparage, disregard, disrespect, expel, give a black eye, humble, humiliate, libel, lose face, lower, mock, put down, reduce, reproach, ridicule, slander, slur, snub, stain, stigmatize, sully, taint, take down a peg, tar and feather, tarnish |
| Antonyms: | esteem, exalt, honor, respect |
| Main Entry: | disparage |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize; detract from |
| Synonyms: | abuse, belittle, chill*, cry down, decry, defame, degrade, deject, demoralize, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, deride, derogate, dis, discourage, discredit, disdain, dishearten, dismiss, dispirit, dispraise, downcry, dump on, lower, malign, minimize, pan, put down, put hooks in, rap, ridicule, roast, run down, scorch, scorn, slam*, slander, smear, sour grapes, tear down, traduce, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, vilify, write off |
| Antonyms: | approve, commend, compliment, flatter, laud, praise, sanction |
| Main Entry: | downgrade |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | lower in opinion or rank |
| Synonyms: | abase, bench, break*, bump*, bust, declass, decrease, decry, degrade, demerit, demote, denigrate, depreciate, detract from, devalorize, devalue, disparage, disrate, humble, mark down, minimize, reduce, run down, set back, take down a peg, undervalue, write off |
| Antonyms: | improve, promote, raise, upgrade |
| Main Entry: | humble |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | shame, put down |
| Synonyms: | abase, abash, bemean, break, bring down, cast down, chagrin, chasten, confound, confuse, crush*, cut to the quick, debase, deflate, degrade, demean, demote, deny, discomfit, discredit, disgrace, embarrass, hide, humiliate, lower*, make eat dirt, make one feel small, mortify, overcome, pop one's balloon, pull down, put away, put one away, put to shame, reduce, silence, sink, snub, squash, squelch, strike dumb, subdue, take down a peg, take down, upset |
| Antonyms: | build up, praise, promote |
| Main Entry: | humiliate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | embarrass, put down |
| Synonyms: | abase, abash, base, bemean, blister, break, bring down, bring low, cast down, chagrin, chasten, confound, confuse, conquer, crush*, cut down to size, debase, degrade, demean, denigrate, deny, depress, discomfit, discountenance, disgrace, dishonor, downplay, humble, lower, make a fool of, make ashamed, mortify, pan, play down, put out of countenance, put to shame, rip*, run down, shame, shoot down, slam*, smear, snub, squash, subdue, take down a peg, take down, tear down, vanquish, wither |
| Antonyms: | build up, elevate, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | insult |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | abuse, offend |
| Synonyms: | abase, affront, aggravate, annoy, blister, curse, cut to the quick, debase, degrade, deride, dishonor, disoblige, dump on, flout, gird, humiliate, injure, irritate, jeer, libel, mock, outrage, pan, provoke, put down*, revile, ridicule, roast, scoff, slam*, slander, slight, sneer, snub, step on one's toes, taunt, tease, underestimate, vex |
| Antonyms: | compliment, flatter, praise |
| Main Entry: | lessen |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | lower, reduce |
| Synonyms: | abate, abridge, amputate, attenuate, become smaller, clip, close, contract, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, de-escalate, decline, decrease, degrade, die down, dilute, diminish, downsize, drain, dwindle, ease, erode, grow less, impair, lighten, minify, minimize, mitigate, moderate, narrow, roll back, shrink, slack up, slacken, slow down, soft-pedal, take the bite out, take the edge off, take the sting out, taper, taper off, thin, truncate, weaken, wind down |
| Notes: | lessen means to decrease in size, extent, or range, while a lesson is a unit of instruction |
| Antonyms: | enlarge, extend, increase, raise, strengthen |
| Main Entry: | lower |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, disgrace |
| Synonyms: | abase, bemean, cast down, condescend, debase, degrade, deign, demean, depress, devalue, downgrade, humble, humiliate, stoop |
| Antonyms: | compliment, laud, praise |