US /ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt/ UK /ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt/
verb

Meanings

  1. 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
Word family
Derived forms denigrationdenigratordenigratorydenigrating
Related forms blacknigrescent

Etymology

From Latin denigratus, past participle of denigrare ('to blacken'), from de- (intensive) plus nigrare ('to make black'), from niger ('black').

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Topics

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