denigrate

[den-i-greyt]

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.

denigrate

/ ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt /

verb

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

2. a rare word for blacken

Other Word Forms

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

Example Sentences

Four years later, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, all nuance was gone; the version of Jefferson on display became a denigrating demonstration of hypocrisy.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

What he didn’t say was that the skepticism was promoted by Kennedy and other anti-vaxxers denigrating the technology; a competent and responsible NIH chief would be defending a technological innovation, not magnifying disinformation about it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Earlier this year, Kelly — for what must be the first time — tried to promote positivity toward women without directly denigrating anyone else in the process.

Read more on Salon

Kennedy, who has denigrated vaccines over the years, did not elaborate on the rationale for altering the recommendation for pregnant women in the 58-second video.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The band previously performed at Glastonbury in 2022 for the BBC, playing a rendition of their track Wicked and Bad, which denigrates former UK PM Margaret Thatcher and includes the line "eat the rich".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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