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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Recent Examples of denigration
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
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
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The Texas court’s decision not only allows Exxon to continue to prosecute a serious defamation lawsuit against Bonta, but a key finding by that court may also implicate him in multiple violations of California anti-corruption laws.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
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Liman’s decision drops Lively’s claims of harassment, defamation and conspiracy, meaning the trial will now center on alleged breach of contract and retaliation by Wayfarer and aiding and abetting retaliation by the PR firm working for Baldoni.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Descovich dismisses the criticism.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Wise's role at the Justice Department drew criticism from congressional Democrats.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Reporting on this new policy prompted public condemnation as well as a letter of inquiry from senior House Republicans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
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The bill drew swift condemnation from rights groups and Muslim-majority countries including Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And though Chalamet did not make such insults himself, his comments fit into this broader context of disparagement and dismissal.—
Chloe Angyal,
Time,
9 Mar. 2026
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As February ended, some of the things coming out of the coaches’ mouths felt more like despair than disparagement.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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During the men’s Euros in 2024, police forces reported 351 incidents of domestic abuse as being football-related.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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The abuse allegations were reported to local law enforcement, said Lauren Fisher Flores, the lawyer representing the girl.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Apolline may embrace the social media aspects of her career but George’s belittlement rankles her.—
Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Keep receipts and other documents related to your purchase, since the purchase price is used to calculate depreciation for tax purposes.—
Nancy Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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There's also the robot lifespan to consider; a March 12 SEC filing cited a four-year depreciation period for them.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Terms like gaman—spelled with the kanji 我 (ego, I, selfish, our, oneself) and 慢 (ridicule, laziness)—are proof of this, as are the kigo terms that describe the emotions of the changing seasons, like kachōfūgetsu—composed of the kanji 花 (flower), 鳥 (bird), 風 (wind), and月(moon).—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
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The design immediately drew ridicule from some critics who likened the arches to a giant tarantula attacking downtown Miami, or the arches on a McDonald’s outlet.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denigration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denigration. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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