What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Belittle vs Discredit - What's the difference?

belittle | discredit |

As a verb belittle

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

As a noun discredit is

disrepute.

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.}}

    Related terms

    * belittlement

    See also

    * disparage * denigrate * vilipend

    discredit

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To harm the good reputation of a person; to cause an idea or piece of evidence to seem false or unreliable.
    • The candidate tried to discredit his opponent.
    The evidence would tend to discredit such a theory.

    Synonyms

    * demean, disgrace, dishonour, disprove, invalidate, tell against

    Derived terms

    * discreditor

    Noun

    (-)
  • The act of discrediting or disbelieving, or the state of being discredited or disbelieved.
    • Later accounts have brought the story into discredit .
  • A degree of dishonour or disesteem; ill repute; reproach.
  • * Rogers
    • It is the duty of every Christian to be concerned for the reputation or discredit his life may bring on his profession.

    Synonyms

    * (degree of dishonour) demerit