denigrate
verb
den·i·grate
ˈde-ni-ˌgrāt 
denigrated; denigrating
1
: to attack the reputation of : defame
denigrate one's opponents
2
: to deny the importance or validity of : belittle
denigrate their achievements
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.
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
But, despite Vance’s invocation of free will, his remarks struck a nerve –– some described the vice president’s words as denigrating towards Hindus –– and broadly, South Asians –– at a time of rising hostilities towards immigrants in the US.
—
Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Others are opting to un-celebrate and, instead, to denigrate the anniversary, following the logic of Nikole Hannah-Jones’s original introduction to the 1619 Project, which cast the Revolution as regrettable.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The top drug regulator at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resigned Sunday, according to officials, after being accused of using his position of authority to publicly denigrate a treatment tied to a former business associate.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 3 Nov. 2025
The publication is choosing to praise Trump slightly while denigrating his appearance as well.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for denigrate
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Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Others are opting to un-celebrate and, instead, to denigrate the anniversary, following the logic of Nikole Hannah-Jones’s original introduction to the 1619 Project, which cast the Revolution as regrettable.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The top drug regulator at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resigned Sunday, according to officials, after being accused of using his position of authority to publicly denigrate a treatment tied to a former business associate.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 3 Nov. 2025
The publication is choosing to praise Trump slightly while denigrating his appearance as well.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for denigrate
Cite this Entry
“Denigrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denigrate. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
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denigrate
verb
den·i·grate
ˈde-ni-ˌgrāt
denigrated; denigrating
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