denigrate

verb

den·​i·​grate ˈde-ni-ˌgrāt 

denigrated; denigrating

transitive verb

1

: to attack the reputation of : defame

denigrate one's opponents

2

: to deny the importance or validity of : belittle

denigrate their achievements

denigration

ˌde-ni-ˈgrā-shən 

noun

denigrative

ˈde-ni-ˌgrā-tiv 

adjective

denigrator

ˈde-ni-ˌgrā-tər 

noun

denigratory

ˈde-ni-grə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Did you know?

The word denigrate has been part of English since the 16th century and can be traced back to the Latin nigrare, meaning "to blacken." When denigrate was first used, it meant "to cast aspersions on someone's character or reputation." Eventually, it developed a second sense of "to make black" ("factory smoke denigrated the sky"), representing an interesting case of a literal sense (now rare) following a figurative one. Nowadays, you’re most likely to hear denigrate used as a synonym of defame or belittle.

Synonyms

• bad-mouth
• belittle
• cry down
• decry
• deprecate
• depreciate
• derogate
• diminish
• dis [slang]
• diss
• discount
• dismiss
• disparage
• kiss off
• minimize
• play down
• poor-mouth
• put down
• run down
• talk down
• trash
• trash-talk
• vilipend
• write off

Examples of denigrate in a Sentence

Her story denigrates him as a person and as a teacher.

No one is trying to denigrate the importance of a good education. We all know that it is crucial for success.

denigrating the talents and achievements of women

Recent Examples on the Web

Olsen stresses that understanding how the fossils were preserved doesn’t denigrate them. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024

Opium is revered by Carti truthers who treat his 2020 album Whole Lotta Red as the Bible, and denigrated by non-believers as a bunch of edgelords who come off as wannabe Satan-worshipers. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2024

While Trump's efforts to denigrate scientific experts were laced with his characteristic conspiracism and drama, many Americans may nevertheless share his views. —Matt Motta, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2024

Yet, during his first term, Trump repeatedly denigrated our allies. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin denigratus, past participle of denigrare, from de- + nigrare to blacken, from nigr-, niger black

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

denigrate

verb

den·​i·​grate

ˈde-ni-ˌgrāt

denigrated; denigrating

1

: to attack the reputation of : defame

2

: to deny the importance or validity of : belittle