denigration
Americannoun
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an act or instance of speaking about someone or something in a belittling or damaging way; disparagement.
Constructive discussion, including differing opinions, is welcomed, but no name-calling, insults, derogatory remarks, or denigrations will be tolerated.
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an act or instance of treating something as if it had little value or importance.
Implanting microchips in people is a denigration of human dignity.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of denigration
First recorded in 1605–15, for an earlier sense; from Latin dēnigrātiōn-, stem of dēnigrātiō “a blackening,” from dēnigrāre “to blacken”; see denigrate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )
Explanation
When you badmouth someone or talk scornfully about them (especially when they don't deserve it), that's denigration. If you practice denigration, shame on you! It's one thing to criticize people fairly, but when it's done in an unfair or unnecessarily hateful way, it's not criticism — it's denigration. The denigration of a public political figure is bad enough, but the denigration of ordinary people because of their religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or body size, for example, can even be illegal. Denigration is rooted in the Latin denigrare, meaning "to blacken."
Vocabulary lists containing denigration
"Men Are Becoming the Ad Target of the Gender Sneer" and "Guys and Dolls No More?"
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Tradition
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Authorities always have a worry" about "exposing people to yet further denigration in the public mind", she told the BBC's Today programme.
From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2025
Mr. Woodard’s book is a brilliant contribution to this denigration effort.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
He even tried to joke that he's "got nothing against cats," which the Harris campaign correctly pointed out means that he is still standing by his denigration of people who have no biological children.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2024
The Scandinavian nation has been viewed abroad as a place that facilitates insults and denigration of the cultures, religions and traditions of other countries.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 7, 2023
But if I’d been letting my dreams get away from me and dreamed about Javi and me, who’s to say other people’s thoughts didn’t get away from them—but not with affection, with a denigration.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
