What does deprecating mean?
'Deprecating' describes speech or behaviour that expresses disapproval, objection, or criticism. It most commonly appears as an adjective — as in 'deprecating remarks' or 'a deprecating tone' — but it is also the present participle of the verb 'deprecate', meaning to express strong disapproval of something. By far its best-known modern use is in the phrase 'self-deprecating', which describes a person who downplays their own talents or importance, usually with charm or humour; such modesty is widely regarded as socially appealing. The word carries a formal register, appearing more often in journalism, reviews, and literary prose than in casual conversation, where words like 'critical' or 'dismissive' would be more natural. A frequent point of confusion is with 'depreciating', which concerns loss of value rather than disapproval — a distinction careful writers preserve. The word derives from the Latin 'deprecari', meaning to pray against or ward off by entreaty, giving it a long history of earnest opposition that survives in today's more everyday sense.
Expressing disapproval, criticism, or a belittling attitude, especially toward oneself.
"He gave a deprecating smile and said the success was mostly luck."
Frequently used attributively in 'self-deprecating'; otherwise somewhat formal.
Present participle of 'deprecate': to express strong disapproval of something.
"The editorial went on deprecating the government's failure to act."
In technical contexts (software, standards), 'deprecated' means discouraged from use — but that applies to the past participle, not this form.
'Self-deprecating' is one of English's most admired social skills — putting yourself down so gracefully that everyone rushes to disagree.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deprecating
'Deprecating' comes from the Latin verb 'deprecari', formed from 'de-' (away) plus 'precarī' (to pray or entreat), originally meaning to pray for deliverance from something or to ward it off by prayer. The verb entered English in the early 17th century with the sense of praying against evil, then broadened to mean expressing earnest disapproval. It shares this Latin root with 'imprecate' (to invoke evil upon someone) and, more distantly, with 'pray' and 'precarious', all stemming from the idea of entreating or obtaining by request.
Related word forms
How deprecating is actually used
Most often found in formal writing or in the fixed phrase 'self-deprecating'. In careful usage, 'deprecate' means to express disapproval, whereas 'depreciate' means to lessen in value — though the two have long been confused, and dictionaries now accept some overlap.
Easily confused with deprecating
'Deprecating' means expressing disapproval or belittling, while 'depreciating' means declining in value or worth.