Main Entry: den·i·grate

Pronunciation: \ˈde-ni-ˌgrāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): den·i·grat·ed; den·i·grat·ing

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

Date: 1526

1 : to attack the reputation of : defame <denigrate one's opponents>
2 : to deny the importance or validity of : belittle <denigrate their achievements>

— den·i·gra·tion \ˌde-ni-ˈgrā-shən\ noun

— den·i·gra·tive \ˈde-ni-ˌgrā-tiv\ adjective

— den·i·gra·tor \-ˌgrā-tər\ noun

— den·i·gra·to·ry \ˈde-ni-grə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective