3 syllables: Dep, re, cate. Stress on Dep.
DEP-ruh-kayt
/ˈdɛpɹəˌkeɪt/
Deprecate is pronounced DEP-ruh-kayt (/ˈdɛpɹəˌkeɪt/). It has three syllables (Dep-re-cate), with the stress on "Dep". Deprecate is a transitive verb meaning to express disapproval of, or to belittle something or someone. It can also mean to urge against use or value, especially in software or policy contexts. In practice, it often appears in formal or technical writing, where an action or feature is deprecated.
verbDeprecate is a transitive verb meaning to express disapproval of, or to belittle something or someone. It can also mean to urge against use or value, especially in software or policy contexts. In practice, it often appears in formal or technical writing, where an action or feature is deprecated.
"The project team deprecated the old API in favor of a more secure alternative."
"She deprecated the practice of manual data entry due to its high error rate."
"The software will deprecate this function in the next release, advising developers to migrate."
Pronounce as di-ˈpre-kāt with stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU dɪˈprɛkeɪt. Break it into de- pre- cate, ensuring the second syllable carries the primary stress and the final -ate sounds like -ate in debate. You’ll start with a short, unstressed di-, then a clear pre- with the E sound as in ‘dress’, and end with -kate as in ‘crate’. Audio: use familiar dictionaries for an example.”,
Common errors include overemphasizing the second syllable or misplacing the stress on the first syllable (de-PREC-ate). People also flatten the vowel in the second syllable to a plain /ɛ/ in fast speech. Correction: keep the secondary syllable reduced (dɪ-), place primary stress on the second syllable (ˈprɛ-), and articulate the final /eɪt/ as a clear /eɪ/ followed by a crisp /t/. Practice with slow, deliberate enunciation.
US/UK/AU share the dɪˈprɛkeɪt pattern, but vowel quality can vary slightly. US tends to a slightly more pronounced /ɪ/ in the first syllable, while UK and AU may have a tighter diphthong in the final /eɪt/ and a subtle length difference on the stressed syllable. Rhoticity has minimal impact here, as the word does not include rhotic vowels. Overall, the core stress and sequence remain consistent across accents.
The difficulty lies in the two-part stress pattern and the final vowel-consonant cluster. The primary stress on the second syllable requires maintaining a clear /ˈprɛ/ while the final /eɪt/ demands a precise glide from /e/ to /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ depending on speaker. Additionally, subtle vowel length differences in fast speech can blur the /ɪ/ and /ɛ/ distinction, so focused practice on the transition from /prɛ/ to /keɪt/ helps.
A unique concern is the subtle reduction of the initial unstressed syllable di- and ensuring the second syllable carries strong stress without sounding clipped. The onset /d/ followed by a light /ɪ/ and /pr/ cluster can invite flapping in rapid US speech if you’re not careful. Maintaining a crisp /dɪˈprɛ/ leads into the longer /keɪt/ without glottal stops.
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US: rhotics are present, but /ɹ/ is not central here; focus on clear /ɪ/ and /pr/ cluster; /eɪ/ should be bright and quick. UK: slightly tighter vowel duration, keep /eɪ/ as a clean long diphthong; avoid nasalization. AU: similar to UK, but you may hear a slightly broader /æ/ in some speakers; maintain the /eɪ/ quality and non-rhoticity of some speakers in casual speech.
Deprecate comes from Medieval Latin deprecatus, past participle of deprecari, meaning to avert harm by prayer or entreaty. The prefix de- indicates reversal or negation, while -precate derives from Latin precari ‘to pray, entreat’. The term entered English through scholarly and ecclesiastical usage in the 16th century, initially in spiritual contexts to describe intercession or avoidance of harm. In English programming and software parlance, deprecation began to emerge in the late 1970s and 1980s, expanding to mean formally marking a feature as obsolete and discouraged for future use. The sense shifted from literal “prayer against harm” to a figurative admonition against relying on an element that will be removed or unsupported, preserving compatibility while warning users. In modern usage, deprecate commonly appears in technical documentation and policy discussions, signaling non-endorsement or planned removal while maintaining backward compatibility for a transitional period.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Deprecate" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Deprecate"
-ate sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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