Final answer:
The antonym of 'belittle' is 'exalt', which means to praise or lift up in status, in contrast to belittle, which means to diminish or put down.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antonym of 'Belittle'
The antonym of 'belittle' is exalt. To belittle means to disparage or to diminish the importance of someone or something. Conversely, to exalt is to hold someone or something in very high regard, to praise or to elevate their status.
Understanding Antonyms
Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. In the English language, understanding antonyms is useful for expanding vocabulary and improving language comprehension. While 'exalt' is a direct antonym for 'belittle', other related antonyms include praise, celebrate, and valorize. Each of these words suggests a recognition of value or worth, opposite to the notion of belittling.
Examples in Sentences
Here are a couple of examples to illustrate the use of these antonyms in sentences:
'Rather than belittle his opponents, the politician chose to praise them for their dedication.'
These examples show us how antonyms can be used to express completely different sentiments or attitudes towards a subject.