Nearby Words
| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make fun of; insult |
| Synonyms: | banter, chaff, contemn, detract, dis, disdain, disparage, do a number on, dump on, flout, gibe, jeer, jolly, kid, knock, laugh at, lout, mock, pan, pooh-pooh, put down*, quiz, rag, rally, razz, rib, ridicule, roast, scoff, scorn, slam, sneer, taunt, twit |
| Antonyms: | commend, compliment, flatter, praise, revere |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| 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 |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | chaff |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | joke, ridicule |
| Synonyms: | banter, deride, fun, jeer, jolly, josh, kid, mock, rag, rally, razz, rib, scoff, taunt, tease |
| Notes: | to chafe means to rub until sore or worn; to chaff means to tease good-naturedly |
| Main Entry: | defy |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | challenge, frustrate |
| Synonyms: | baffle, beard, brave, confront, contemn, dare, defeat, deride, despise, disregard, elude, face, flout, fly in face of, foil, front, gibe, hang tough, hurl defiance at, ignore, insult, make my day, mock, oppose, outdare, provoke, repel, repulse, resist, ridicule, scorn, slight, spurn, stick fast, stick*, take one on, thwart, venture, violate, withstand |
| Antonyms: | give in, obey, surrender, yield |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | depreciate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, ridicule |
| Synonyms: | abuse, asperse, attack, calumniate, censure, clamor against, condemn, contemn, decry, defame, denigrate, denounce, deprecate, deride, derogate, detract, discount, discountenance, discredit, disgrace, disparage, dispraise, fault, find fault with, humble, knock, look down on, lower, malign, minimize, put down, rap, revile, roast, run down, scoff at, scorn, slam, slander, slight, slur, smear, sneer at, spurn, take down a peg, traduce, underestimate, underrate, undervalue, vilify |
| Antonyms: | approve, commend, compliment, exalt, laud, praise, recommend |
| Main Entry: | despise |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | look down on |
| Synonyms: | abhor, abominate, allergic to, contemn, deride, detest, disdain, disregard, eschew, execrate, feel contempt for, flout, hate, have no use for, loathe, look down nose at, misprize, neglect, put down*, reject, renounce, repudiate, revile, scorn, shun, slight, snub, spurn, undervalue, wipe out |
| Notes: | one would tend to detest someone for behavior, despise someone for character hate means to 'dislike intensely, loathe' and despise means 'look down on contemptuously' |
| Antonyms: | admire, appreciate, cherish, like, love |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | disdain |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | scorn |
| Synonyms: | abhor, be allergic to, belittle, chill, contemn, deride, despise, disregard, hate, ignore, look down nose at, look down on, misprize, pooh-pooh, put down*, refuse, reject, scout, slight, sneer at, spurn, undervalue |
| Notes: | contempt is a more engaged, more involved feeling of disapproval than disdain |
| Antonyms: | admire, approve, esteem, favor, praise, respect |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| 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: | dismiss |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | put out of one's mind |
| Synonyms: | banish, contemn, deride, despise, discard, disdain, dispel, disregard, drop, flout, gibe, gird, jeer, kiss off, laugh away, lay aside, mock, pooh-pooh, rally, reject, relegate, repudiate, repulse, ridicule, scoff, scorn, scout, set aside, shelve, spurn, taunt, twit |
| Antonyms: | accept, welcome |
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
