belittle

Belittle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belittled; p. pr. & vb. n. Belittling.]

To make little or less in a moral sense; to speak of in a depreciatory or contemptuous way. T. Jefferson.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for belittle; he lists it under disparage.

Where he writes about it:

To disparage is to belittle by damaging comparison or suggestion; it is used only of things. — from disparage