denigrate C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes US /ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt/ UK /ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to criticize unfairly; to disparage or belittle It is unkind to denigrate the efforts of volunteers. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to criticize unfairly; to... disparagebelittlemalignvilifydefamebesmirchslander ↔ Opposites praiseextollaudcommendexalt Word family Derived forms denigrationdenigratordenigratorydenigrating Related forms blacknigrescent Etymology AI details From Latin denigratus, past participle of denigrare ('to blacken'), from de- (intensive) plus nigrare ('to make black'), from niger ('black'). denigrare Latin niger Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # denigrate **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt/ ## Meanings 1. to criticize unfairly; to disparage or belittle ## Examples - It is unkind to denigrate the efforts of volunteers. ## Synonyms - disparage - belittle - malign - vilify - defame - besmirch - slander ## Antonyms - praise - extol - laud - commend - exalt ## Derived Forms - denigration - denigrator - denigratory - denigrating ## Related Forms - black - nigrescent ## Roots and Affixes - Root: denigrare - Root: niger ## Etymology From Latin denigratus, past participle of denigrare ('to blacken'), from de- (intensive) plus nigrare ('to make black'), from niger ('black'). ## AI Etymology Denigrate comes from Latin denigratus, past participle of denigrare ('to blacken'), from de- (intensive) plus nigrare ('to make black'), from niger ('black'). The etymological trail includes Latin denigrare and Latin niger. As a verb, denigrate means to criticize unfairly; to disparage or belittle. The same family is visible in derived forms such as denigration, denigrator, denigratory, and denigrating and related forms such as black and nigrescent. ## Topics - Actions & Processes - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown