Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

deprecate

/ˈdɛp.rɪˌkeɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.88 in modern English

Syllables: dep-re-cate
IPA: /ˈdɛp.rɪˌkeɪt/

14

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To express disapproval of, protest or plead against.

Transitive verb

verb

To belittle, depreciate.

Transitive verb

verb

To declare something obsolescent; to recommend against a function, technique, command, etc. that still works but has been replaced.

Transitive verb

verb

To pray against.

Archaic; Transitive verb

verb

To regret deeply.

Archaic; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"They deprecated the attempt to deny aid to homeless people."
"She deprecated any action which might disturb the peace."
"He spoke of Ethel continually; entreated her to forgive him; deprecated her coldness; and implored her to retract her refusal."
"He deprecates any praise of his own merits."
"Prior to the 1980s, Australian English had been widely deprecated by Australians themselves, principally as a result of a sense of inferiority known as "cultural cringe"."
"The 'bold' tag has been deprecated in favour of the 'strong' tag."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dēprecātus, perfect active participle of dēprecor (“to pray against (a present or impending evil) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), pray for, intercede for (that which is in danger), rarely imprecate”), from dē- (“off”) + precor (“to pray”).

Word Breakdown

Root: *preḱ-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈdɛp.rɪˌkeɪt/
British English: /ˈdɛpɹɪkeɪt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

deprecates (present, singular) deprecating (participle, present) deprecated (participle, past) deprecated (past)

Derived Forms

deprecatory

Phrases

self-deprecate

Frequently Paired Words

deprecation discontinue

Synonyms

disparage denounce admonish animadvert bash bawl out tilt cannonade slash lash blame scorch

Antonyms

recommend endorse praise commend big up cut it fat exaggerate hyperbolize overcharge overdo overemphasize overstate

Questions

How do you pronounce deprecate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɛp.rɪˌkeɪt/.
What does deprecate mean?: To express disapproval of, protest or plead against.
Where does deprecate come from?: Borrowed from Latin dēprecātus, perfect active participle of dēprecor (“to pray against (a present or impending evil) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), pray for, intercede for (that which is in danger), rarely imprecate”), from dē- (“off”) + precor (“to pray”).

How to pronounce deprecate

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