Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

depreciate

/dəˈpriʃiˌeɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.46 in modern English

Syllables: de-pre-ci-ate
IPA: /dəˈpriʃiˌeɪt/

15

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To lessen in price or estimated value; to lower the worth of.

Transitive verb

verb

To decline in value over time.

Intransitive verb

verb

To belittle or disparage.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"[…] which […] some over-severe philosophers may look upon fastidiously, or undervalue and depreciate."
"To prove that the Americans ought not to be free, we are obliged to depreciate the value of freedom itself."
"They depreciated him because he was the youngest on the team."

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English depreciaten, borrowed from Late Latin dēpretiātus / dēpreciātus, perfect passive participle of dēpretiō / dēpreciō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dē- + pretium (“price”) + -ō.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *per-, depreciaten, dēpretiātus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /dəˈpriʃiˌeɪt/
British English: /dɪˈpɹiːʃɪeɪt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

depreciates (present, singular) depreciating (participle, present) depreciated (participle, past) depreciated (past) depretiate (alternative)

Derived Forms

depreciatable depreciative depreciator depreciatory nondepreciated undepreciated

Phrases

self-depreciate

Frequently Paired Words

appreciate precious price prize

Synonyms

degrade devalue devaluate abase avile debase debauch depreciate dirty elevate vitiate badmouth

Antonyms

appreciate upvalue aggrandize big up advance dignify elevate ennoble exalt honor nobilitate prefer

Rhymes With

appreciate

Questions

How do you pronounce depreciate?: The recorded pronunciation is /dəˈpriʃiˌeɪt/.
What does depreciate mean?: To lessen in price or estimated value; to lower the worth of.
Where does depreciate come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce depreciate

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