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Belittle vs Condescending - What's the difference?

belittle | condescending |

As verbs the difference between belittle and condescending

is that belittle is to knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is while condescending is .

As an adjective condescending is

assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing attitude.

belittle

English

Verb

(belittl)
  • To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is.
  • * {{quote-book, year=2006
  • , author=Mark Steyn , title=America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It , chapter=9 , isbn=0895260786 , page=201 , passage=Under the rules as understood by the New York Times'', the West is free to mock and belittle''' its Judeo-Christian inheritance, and, likewise, the Muslim world is free to mock and ' belittle the West's Judeo-Christian inheritance.}}

    See also

    * disparage * denigrate * vilipend

    condescending

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing attitude.
  • Quit talking to me in that condescending tone! You always treat me like a child – ugh!

    Synonyms

    * (assuming a tone of superiority) (l)

    Derived terms

    * condescendingly

    Verb

    (head)