as in to dismiss
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
theater critics have been denigrating her acting ability for years
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Recent Examples of denigrate
Their interracial, interfaith relationship has been publicly picked apart, with white Christian nationalists and fringe conservatives denigrating Usha Vance's faith and her Indian American heritage.
—
Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Trump has made denigrating comments toward multiple countries in the tournament, and Iran threatened to boycott the draw before switching course a day in advance.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2025
Where's the line between church and state, and how does government simultaneously defend freedom for all religions and denigrate none?
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 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
See All Example Sentences for denigrate
Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Trump has made denigrating comments toward multiple countries in the tournament, and Iran threatened to boycott the draw before switching course a day in advance.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2025
Where's the line between church and state, and how does government simultaneously defend freedom for all religions and denigrate none?
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 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
See All Example Sentences for denigrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denigrate
Verb
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Government attorneys argued that the raids were entirely lawful and that the plaintiffs’ lawsuit should be dismissed in its entirety.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
16 Jan. 2026
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Since the lawsuit was originally dismissed in September, Minnesota and its Democratic leadership have come under immense scrutiny and arguably lost credibility due to the state's growing welfare fraud scandal.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cruz and other Republicans argued the decision minimized the gravity of an attack on the judiciary and could encourage future political violence.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Kaufman moved there 30 years ago, and since that time the island’s community has diminished by degrees, its youth lured away by better employment prospects in Provo and overseas.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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No less than a half-dozen GOP senators publicly criticized the Department of Justice for investigating Powell over Hill testimony last year about the Fed headquarters’ renovation.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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Last week, Graham Knaus, the chief executive of the California State Association of Counties, criticized Newsom’s budget for not responding to the cost burdens shifting to local governments.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Fernández was accused of disparaging the federation and attempting to install his preferred candidate to lead the football institution.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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So please, stop disparaging previous presidents.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denigrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denigrate. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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