as in dismissing
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 denigrating
Polak is a symbol of virtue where conscience reigns over fear and intimidation to refute the hateful and divisive rhetoric of people like Charile Kirk who self-righteously relished in denigrating and dehumanizing others in a most un-Christian way.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, the audience for mainstream media has been falling for years, and public trust in traditional journalists is at historic lows, amplified by political figures who make denigrating journalists part of their brand.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
People had been denigrating her game all season long, but Kristina Mills had her final-three speech all ready.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
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
At a single, two-minute dinner, Hermann Kafka smashes a cockroach while denigrating his son’s engagement to Felice Bauer before reiterating his distaste for Franz’s writing.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
After trying unsuccessfully to change the subject and denigrating his own supporters for not moving on, the Republican president told Attorney General Pam Bondi to ask courts to unseal the grand jury transcripts in the case.
—Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
But now, the American president is repeating Putin’s mantras, denigrating Ukraine, and seems poised to cut aid.
—Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, the audience for mainstream media has been falling for years, and public trust in traditional journalists is at historic lows, amplified by political figures who make denigrating journalists part of their brand.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
People had been denigrating her game all season long, but Kristina Mills had her final-three speech all ready.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
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
At a single, two-minute dinner, Hermann Kafka smashes a cockroach while denigrating his son’s engagement to Felice Bauer before reiterating his distaste for Franz’s writing.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
After trying unsuccessfully to change the subject and denigrating his own supporters for not moving on, the Republican president told Attorney General Pam Bondi to ask courts to unseal the grand jury transcripts in the case.
—Jennifer Peltz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
But now, the American president is repeating Putin’s mantras, denigrating Ukraine, and seems poised to cut aid.
—Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denigrating
Verb
-
While skepticism toward artificial intelligence is understandable, dismissing AI as inherently harmful overlooks both history and reality.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
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If doubts appear from seemingly nowhere, make a point of uncovering their roots before dismissing them.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Jagaric notes that, aside from thongs, these are among the best seamless underwear options for comfort and for minimizing the risk of panty lines.—
Abby Morgan Lebet,
InStyle,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But while the statement is getting a lot of attention, the far bigger story in Ottawa is the team’s diminishing playoff odds.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The committee’s Democratic members savaged Rubio for diminishing America’s global role; the meeting grew so rancorous that Senator Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho who was Rubio’s closest friend in the Senate, had to repeatedly bang his gavel to bring order.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Most Americans according to the latest polls disapprove of Trump and hope for a return to a president who governs with a respect for the norms presidents of both parties have observed when criticizing those who differed with them.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
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Kelly defended the protest during a news conference Tuesday, criticizing the church for its association with a pastor who works for ICE.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denigrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denigrating. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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