Deprecate – To express disapproval of; disparage or belittle

(Pronounced deh-pruh-kayt)

To remember the definition of the word deprecate, use the following mnemonic:

At the depot they ripped the catering (deprecate) boxes open to reveal substances that the law did not approve of.

At the depot they ripped the catering (deprecate) boxes open to reveal substances that the law did not approve of; the police were heard to say the rest of the contents were of little vale or importance.

Examples of deprecate in a sentence

The peace loving people deprecate war.

It is unfair to deprecate someone who is trying their hardest.

We must deprecate the actions of criminal gangs.