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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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
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
-
The Robinsons have denied the allegations and counter-sued the women for defamation and elder abuse.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The group has faced multiple defamation lawsuits from those who were fired; only one has been elevated to federal court.—
Mikayla Price,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The relationship between Dallas police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement has long been complicated, drawing criticism from both state leaders and community advocates.—
Robbie Owens,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Hungary, a major net recipient of EU funds, had come under increasing criticism for veering away from democratic norms.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ye has drawn widespread condemnation for making antisemitic remarks and voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The immigration roundups and deaths of Mexican migrants have prompted condemnation, notes of protests and calls for investigation from the Sheinbaum administration.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Earlier that year, Orbán’s government was rocked by public furor over the decision by Hungary’s president, Katalin Novák, to pardon the deputy director of a children’s home who had helped cover up the abuse of underaged boys.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
-
In some cases, these measures may even invite abuse.—
Mike Smith,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Mercer notes that currency depreciation in these places is the driving force behind their more affordable status.—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Shevlin, of FlyUSA, said his company benefited from the tax law, which included a provision called bonus depreciation that allows business owners to deduct the full cost of equipment, including a private jet, from their taxes the year it is purchased, even if it is partly used for personal trips.—
Shannon Pettypiece,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Cybertruck’s angular design was divisive, and the attention-grabbing vehicle occasionally became the target of ridicule and vandalism when a backlash against Musk swelled last year.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Speaking with Cosmopolitan, Wilson, who came out as trans in 2020 per Teen Vogue, shared her outlook on navigating the fashion world, which solely relies on appearance, and the ridicule on social media that follows.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denigration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denigration. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
