denigration

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   unfair criticism that belittles someone or damages their reputation

   The article's denigration of the scientist ignored her achievements.

2. 2
   noun

   the act of treating something as less valuable or important than it is

   His denigration of practical skills upset the apprentices.

From Latin denigratio, from denigrare, “to blacken,” built from de- and niger, “black.” The literal idea of making dark developed into the figurative sense of blackening a person's reputation or belittling something.

Topics