What does deprecatingly mean?
Deprecatingly is a formal adverb describing an action done in a way that expresses disapproval, or that modestly plays down one's own merits. It derives from the verb 'deprecate', which historically meant to pray against something or to ward it off, but which in modern usage chiefly means to express strong disapproval. When a character in a novel waves a compliment aside deprecatingly, they are deflating it — either out of genuine objection or out of polite humility, as in the familiar phrase 'self-deprecating humour'. The word belongs largely to written, literary English rather than everyday conversation, lending narration a tone of measured judgement. Writers value it because a single adverb can convey both an attitude and a gesture: a smile, a wave of the hand, a murmured remark can all be rendered deprecatingly. It should not be confused with 'depreciatingly', which concerns loss of value rather than disapproval.
adverbIn a manner that expresses disapproval or strong objection; or, in a milder sense, in a way that belittles something modestly or self-effacingly.
- In a manner expressing disapproval or censure of something.
- In a manner that modestly disparages oneself or deflects praise; self-deprecatingly.
"She waved away the compliment deprecatingly, insisting the credit belonged to her team."
"He shook his head deprecatingly at the suggestion that he had saved the project single-handedly."
""Oh, it was nothing," she said deprecatingly, though weeks of work lay behind the result."
It comes from the Latin for 'to pray against' — so when someone smiles deprecatingly at your praise, they are literally praying it away.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deprecatingly
Deprecatingly comes from the verb 'deprecate', borrowed in the early 17th century from Latin deprecari, formed from de- ('away') and precari ('to pray'), hence literally 'to pray against'. The original English sense — entreating deliverance from evil — gave way by the 18th century to the modern meaning of expressing disapproval, and the adverb developed alongside it. It shares its root with 'pray' itself and with 'precarious', from Latin precarius, 'obtained by entreaty'.
Related word forms
How deprecatingly is actually used
The word carries a formal, literary register and appears mostly in narrative prose describing gestures or speech. Its two senses can pull in opposite directions — outward disapproval versus inward modesty — so context determines which applies; the 'self-belittling' sense often shades into the adjective 'self-deprecating'.
Easily confused with deprecatingly
'Depreciatingly' relates to decline in value (from depreciate), while 'deprecatingly' relates to expressing disapproval or modest self-belittlement.