French word

rabaisser

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁabese/

Meaning

  • verbbelittle

Example

Il ne faut pas rabaisser les autres.

We must not belittle others.

Illustration for rabaisser (belittle)

More examples

Il ne faut pas se rabaisser pour plaire aux autres.

You shouldn't put yourself down to please others.

Core concept

A contemptuous remark makes another person's worth seem lower in the eyes of others.

Common phrases

  • se rabaisser

    put oneself down

  • rabaisser quelqu'un devant les autres

    put someone down in front of others

  • rabaisser un collègue

    put down a colleague

Similar words

dénigrer: Disparage someone's reputation or abilities to make them seem less valuable.
humilier: Make someone feel ashamed and injure their dignity or honor.
insulter: Hurt someone by addressing them with openly abusive or insulting words.
mépriser: Treat someone as beneath consideration and show scorn for them.

Definition in French

Diminuer l'estime d'une personne par des paroles, des moqueries ou des attitudes méprisantes.

Word origin

Its formation adds re- to abaisser, the verb for lowering, whose base is related to bas and Latin bassus, meaning 'low'.

Usage tips

  • Se rabaisser means to put oneself down, whereas rabaisser quelqu'un targets another person.

Other meanings

  • demean ___verb
  • lowerverb

Opposites

Related words

  • rabaissébelittledadjective

Word lists with this word