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

But if it is altered, selectively edited, or shared with false context to damage someone’s reputation, legal issues such as defamation or invasion of privacy may arise.

— Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
He was sued for defamation by voting machine companies — including one case that was settled.

— Dana Ferguson, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of defamation

Noun

The justice ministry rejected the criticism, saying the proceedings complied with Syrian law and included the participation of victims and their representatives.

— Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
The documentary spotlighted some harsh criticisms of the show and of Banks.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticism

Noun

Whether Tlaib is motivated by animus toward Moskowitz and Wasserman Schultz for their censure votes and condemnations of her rhetoric, or by support for their progressive opponents Larkin and Manley — or a combination — is unknown.

— Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Missing from the 62-page report — at least in the view of some longtime department observers — was any reflection about officers’ use of less-lethal weapons that left hundreds of people injured and drew strong condemnations from human rights groups.

— Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 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

The Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm specializing in civil liberties cases, identified over 100 incidents of automatic license plate reader abuse, including stalking and wrongful stops.

— Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Fazio said his administration would look closely into key positions that necessitate work be performed in-office and on-site, such as social workers responsible for monitoring child abuse cases.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 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

The company reported preliminary underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $3 billion for April to June.

— Jenni Reid,Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
The bear case – that CoreWeave’s six-year useful life assumption for calculating GPU depreciation overstates operating income -- does not seem to be moving the stock.

— Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of depreciation

Noun

Trump was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize before the tournament began, a decision which triggered widespread ridicule across the world.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
The Union Station plan drew ridicule in the Washington press and failed to gain congressional support.

— Jennifer Tucker, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of ridicule

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“Denigration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denigration. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of denigration

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