A disparaging action implies a similar lack of respect but goes one step further and actually contains a criticism of that person. Finally defiant is somewhat different in nature to the rest of the words, in that it is an act of proudly refusing to obey (which does not need to be anything to do with a lack of respect, unlike the other words we ...
Vulgar suggests something that is offensive to good taste or decency, frequently with the added implication of boorishness or ill breeding [examples omitted] ... derogatory, depreciatory, depreciative, disparaging, slighting, pejorative mean designed or tending to belittle.
Here is a quote from American Heritage that helped me a lot: Synonyms: disparage, denigrate, belittle, depreciate These verbs mean to minimize the value or importance of someone or something. Disparage implies a critical or dismissive attitude often accompanied by disrespect: "Leaders who wouldn't be caught dead making religious or ethnic slurs don't hesitate to disparage the 'godless' among ...
Since I've most often heard the word "epithet" being used in a disparaging sense, I think my question is valid, to those voting to close it. It's virtually mainstream usage of the word "epithet" to mean a term of disparagement.
Is there a name for the device of writing in a disparaging tone while actually complimenting someone? Suggested edit: What happened is that I intended to compliment a writer, but to do so in a rough-and-tumble, masculine jousting, verbally sparring way, for humor, and to add some distance in a context of others' compliments becoming somewhat ...
Usually, an epithet is disparaging, but not always. An epithet may also be a title that describes an attribute of a person or thing, such as Edward the Confessor and Richard the Lionheart. Epithet is derived from the Greek word epitheton, which means attributed.
Take the following statement: I hate the ease with which X makes disparaging remarks about their rivals without the least concern as to whether they are truthful or fair. Now I would like a word
Rickety old boat would also be another way to refer in very disparaging terms to any boat/ship/sailing vessel. I can't find citations of this being a common idiom, but googling the term yields lots of results from various books (via Google Books).