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"Menoscabar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to diminish", and "menospreciar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to underestimate". Learn more about the difference between "menoscabar" and "menospreciar" below.
menoscabar(
meh
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nohs
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kah
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bahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to diminish
Las manchas en el mármol menoscaban su valor comercial.The stains on the marble diminish its commercial value.
b. to lessen
La medida propuesta por el partido gobernante pretende menoscabar el daño que la nueva ley hará a las regiones más desfavorecidas.The measure proposed by the governing party aims to lessen the harm the new law will do to the most disadvantaged regions.
c. to reduce
La cantidad que tuvo que pagar después del accidente menoscabó mucho la fortuna del futbolista.The settlement he had to pay following the accident greatly reduced the football player's fortune.
menoscabarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to be diminished
La confianza se menoscaba en una pareja cuando uno de los dos miente.Trust is diminished in a couple when one of them lies.
b. to be reduced
Con el uso de las cámaras de los celulares, se menoscaba la privacidad de los usuarios.With the use of cell phone cameras, users' privacy is reduced.
menospreciar(
meh
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nohs
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preh
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syahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to scorn
La maestra te menospreciará si se entera de que has hecho trampa en el examen.The teacher will scorn you if she finds out that you have cheated on the exam.
b. to despise
Míriam menospreció el collar que el novio de su madre le dio.Miriam despised the necklace that her mother's boyfriend gave her.
a. to underestimate
El personaje más menospreciado del libro acabó siendo el héroe de la trama.The most underestimated character in the book ended up being the hero of the plot.
b. to undervalue
Que no te demos un salario competitivo no significa que menospreciemos tu trabajo.Although we don't give you a competitive salary, that doesn't mean that we undervalue your contributions.
c. to underrate
Muchos críticos menospreciaron la película que al final ganó un premio Óscar.Many critics underrated the movie that in the end won an Oscar.
d. to put down
Estoy harta de que mi jefa siempre me menosprecie.I'm fed up with my boss always putting me down.
menospreciarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to underestimate oneself
A Clara le falta confianza. Tiende a menospreciarse.Clara lacks self-confidence. She tends to underestimate herself.
b. to put oneself down
Creo que Jorge tiene un problema de autoestima. Es muy inteligente, pero se menosprecia constantemente.I think Jorge has a problem with his self-esteem. He's very intelligent, but he puts himself down all the time.
