* Formal: "He offered a deprecatory smile, acknowledging his earlier mistake."
* Informal: "She gave a deprecatory shrug, implying that she didn't want to talk about it."
* With a specific action: "His deprecatory wave of the hand dismissed the entire argument."
* Describing a tone: "He spoke with a deprecatory tone, as if he were embarrassed by the entire situation."
Definition: Deprecatory means expressing or showing disapproval or a lack of respect. It often suggests a sense of humility or a desire to downplay one's own importance.