disparagement

belittling speech or treatment

Roots

dis- / dif-: apart, away, not, reversal, or disruption
par / peer: equal, level, rank, or standing

Other words with the par / peer root

disparage: to belittle or speak of as lower in worth
disparate: different in kind; not comparable
disparity: noticeable inequality or difference
parity: equality or equivalence
peer: equal in status or ability

Disparagement lowers someone in words.

Her critique was firm, but it avoided disparagement.

Picture a voice pressing someone down instead of answering the idea.

Open the AstraWords vocabulary map