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
• denigrator noun
• denigrative adjective
• 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

This is not to denigrate Grealish's form, which has already made him a hero with Everton's fans, but a brutal reality.

Read more on BBC

“What we do here makes a difference,” Barbara tells the consultants in an inspirational speech, making the point that “DMV” is not out to denigrate the institution or the people who work there.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Our America recoils from people who push their religious beliefs on others, or who denigrate women and other citizens who happen to be unlike them.

Read more on Salon

Yet in almost Cooperian fashion, “Irascible” goes out of its way to denigrate Richardson—an approach that sits awkwardly with Richardson’s formidable record of art scholarship, including his four-volume “A Life of Picasso.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But that nomination was pulled from consideration in the Senate after Ingrassia’s association with neo-Nazis and history of denigrating federal workers was exposed.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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