denigrate

American  

[den-i-greyt] / ˈdɛn ɪˌgreɪt /

verb (used with object)

denigrated, denigrating

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.

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denigrate British  

/ ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to belittle or disparage the character of; defame

2. a rare word for blacken

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Related Words

See decry.

Other Word Forms

• denigration noun
• denigrative adjective
• denigrator noun
• denigratory adjective
• self-denigrating adjective

Etymology

Origin of denigrate

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

Example Sentences

The solicitor added: "The families have now been vindicated but only after years of being denigrated and dismissed by the health board."

From BBC

Films are poignant and important, no matter how much the institutions designed to award them have come to denigrate them.

From Salon

The panel found Mr Lawler was entitled to hold his own beliefs, but the newsletters were "not just advancing strongly held opinions" but were "attacks" on positions that Mr Lawler "sought to denigrate".

From BBC

“It is likely that a very unhappy human came up with the idea of denigrating the holiday experience, even if AI was used to create part of the ad.”

From Los Angeles Times

"We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin's name or image", publisher Kids Can Press said.

From BBC

Related Words

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