denigrate

[ den-i-greyt ]

verb (used with object)

, den·i·grat·ed, den·i·grat·ing.

1. to speak damagingly of; criticize in a derogatory manner; sully; defame:

   to denigrate someone's character.

   Synonyms: vilify, disparage, traduce, slander, besmirch, malign

2. to treat or represent as lacking in value or importance; belittle; disparage:

   to denigrate someone's contributions to a project.

3. Archaic. to make black; darken:

   rain clouds denigrating the sky.

denigrate

/ ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt /

verb

1. tr to belittle or disparage the character of; defame
2. See blacken
   a rare word for blacken

Derived Forms

• ˈdeniˌgrator, noun
• ˌdeniˈgration, noun

Other Words From

• den·i·gra·tion [den-i-, grey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• den·i·gra·tive adjective
• den·i·gra·tor noun
• den·i·gra·to·ry [den, -i-gr, uh, -tawr-ee], adjective
• self-den·i·grat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of denigrate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin dēnigrātus (past participle of dēnigrāre “to blacken”), equivalent to dē- de- + nigr(āre) “to make black” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of denigrate¹

C16: from Latin dēnigrāre to make very black, defame, from nigrāre to blacken, from niger black

Synonym Study

See decry.

Related Words

• besmirch
• defame
• disparage
• impugn
• slander
• vilify