dispraise
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /dɪsˈpreɪz/
KK: /dɪsˈpreɪz/
noun
Definition
A negative judgment or expression of disapproval about someone or something.
Example
The teacher's dispraise of the student's work was clear in her comments.
Conversation
Did you hear the dispraise that the movie got from critics?
Yeah, I saw some reviews, and they were pretty harsh.
It's surprising because I thought it was actually quite entertaining.
I agree! It's a shame that the dispraise overshadowed the fun aspects.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
censure
rebuke
criticism
Antonyms
praise
approval
commendation
transitive verb
Definition
To express a negative opinion about someone or something; to criticize or condemn.
Example
The teacher did not hesitate to dispraise the student's lack of effort in class.
Tense Forms
Past: dispraised
Past Participle: dispraised
Conversation
I heard some people really dispraise the new restaurant in town.
Yeah, I read that too, but I thought it was pretty good!
I wonder why they would dispraise it so much if the food was decent.
Root Explanation
Dispraise → It is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart or away) and "praise" (from Old French *priser*, meaning to value or esteem). The word "dispraise" means to express disapproval or to take away value from something.
Memory Tip
Think of 'taking away' ('dis-') the 'value' or 'esteem' ('praise') of something — that's why dispraise means to express disapproval.
Visually Confused Words
mispraise
misraise
praise
misappraise