DENIGRATION Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

denigration

noun

Definition of denigration

as in defamation

the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant the unfair denigration of the social sciences by some people in the natural sciences

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of denigration For me, this marks an early moment in the denigration of women. — Eana Kim, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026 Nowhere is there the vitriol or denigration found in MAGA gatherings. — Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026 From the start, the denigration of the Iranian monarchy was at the center of the Islamic Republic’s official ideology. — Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026 Trump is, of course, a man whose rise to power has been fueled by his denigration of people for being animal-like. — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026 The human costs of this are the increasing rates of illnesses and the financial costs of health care, lost productivity, and the compounding problems of further environmental denigration. — Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for denigration

Noun

Jevremovic sued him for defamation in December but a judge threw out the case, citing that it hadn’t been filed in the correct jurisdiction.

— Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
His denials and claims about Carroll were central to her defamation allegations.

— Graham Kates, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of defamation

Noun

The government’s unprecedented move this week sparked condemnations across the political and legal spectrum, sounding the alarm that Israel was becoming a country whose executive no longer felt bound by the rule of law.

— Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 10 July 2026
With no end in sight to the fighting after one year of bloodshed, the IOC reiterates its condemnation of the war in Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of the Olympic Truce that was in effect at the time, and the Olympic Charter.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026

Definition of condemnation

Noun

Asserting claims for tortious interference, civil conspiracy, commercial disparagement and violations of Illinois consumer fraud laws, the Butlers sought more than $50 million in compensatory damages and over $200 million in punitive damages.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 June 2026
These disparagements cut to the core of southern manhood.

— Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026

Definition of disparagement

Noun

Nigeria imposed a $220 million fine on Meta in 2024 following an investigation that alleged a breach of data privacy laws and market power abuse by the Silicon Valley giant.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 10 July 2026
Hundreds of pages of filings in a civil lawsuit and countersuit detail allegations of fraud and elder abuse, years of adultery, and a battle for property, luxury sports cars and cash.

— Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026

Definition of abuse

Noun

During Season 10, a newly confident Batula — who seemed to despise Cooke from the first minute of the premiere episode — appeared to be poised to launch a triumphant post-divorce arc, free at last from Cooke’s belittlement and verbal abuse.

— Kate Aurthur, Variety, 29 June 2026
Apolline may embrace the social media aspects of her career but George’s belittlement rankles her.

— Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2025

Definition of belittlement

Noun

And at a time of record-high rates of EV depreciation, what would happen to the value of their cars?

— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 10 July 2026
Qnity may raise its full-year guidance for revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization due to growing fabrication plant utilization across the company's semiconductor customers, the analyst added.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 July 2026

Definition of depreciation

Noun

That vision became a target of ridicule — and eventually a joke among the fanbase — when the plan failed to produce a second championship-level core.

— Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
That means that in teams where people felt safe to share ideas and make mistakes, with little fear of ridicule or retribution, there was significantly higher productivity, a lower rate of turnover, more innovation and much more engagement.

— Leeza Carlone Steindorf, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Definition of ridicule

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“Denigration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denigration. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of denigration

noun

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