derogate

verb

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der·o·gate | \ ˈder-ə-ˌgāt

, ˈde-rə- \

derogated; derogating

Definition of derogate

transitive verb

: to cause to seem inferior : disparage derogating another's achievements

intransitive verb

1 : to take away a part so as to impair : detract … a few instances of inaccuracy or mediocrity can never derogate from the superlative merit of Homer and Vergil …— Oliver Goldsmith

2 : to act beneath one's position or character

Other Words from derogate Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about derogate

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Did You Know?

You're probably familiar with derogatory, the adjective meaning "expressing a low opinion," but you may not be as well-acquainted with the less common verb, derogate. Both words can be traced back to the Late Latin word derogatus, which is the past participle of the verb derogare, meaning "to detract" or "to annul (a law)." Derogare, in turn, derives from the Latin word for "ask," rogare. Derogate first appeared in English in the 15th century. Derogatory was adopted in the early 16th century, and has become much more popular than the verb. Other derogate relatives include derogative, derogation, and derogatorily.

Examples of derogate in a Sentence

The title of the book derogates the people it is about. Her parents are constantly derogating her achievements.

Recent Examples on the Web The key issue is who has the final authority to determine whether the play derogates the spirit or alters the characters. — Jack Greiner, Cincinnati.com, "Greiner column: Will litigation kill stage version of "To Kill A Mockingbird"?," 28 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'derogate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.