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

Conservative filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza has settled a defamation lawsuit filed by a Gwinnett County man in 2022, avoiding a trial that was set to begin Monday in federal court in Atlanta.

— Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
While legal protections exist, like the TAKE IT DOWN Act and defamation claims, they are often poorly enforced, arrive too late, and face challenges from Big Tech.

— Allyson Kapin, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of defamation

Noun

The decision quickly drew criticism from cattle industry organizations.

— Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
As someone who counsels and advocates for people who have been convicted of the worst crimes imaginable, Hood often faces criticism from the victims’ families.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticism

Noun

These measures attracted widespread international condemnation, with several countries and the United Nations criticizing the Taliban’s treatment of women.

— Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026
Settlers have surrounded three Palestinian houses for more than a week, trapping families inside as Israeli troops declare a closed military zone and Washington issues an unusually sharp condemnation.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of condemnation

Noun

Her mother, meanwhile, is backed up by her second husband (Kwon), a mild-mannered documentary filmmaker whose profession gives his wife yet more ammunition in her smiling disparagement of Sanghee.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of disparagement

Noun

Shortly after, Panettiere struggles with postpartum depression, and her substance abuse issues resurface.

— Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Video recordings and documents detail how investigators pursued the case, and the possibility of abuse, for months but failed to identify a perpetrator.

— Amy Brittain, Washington Post, 21 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

Furthermore, stocks are an amazing hedge against the long-term depreciation of fiat currencies.

— Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
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

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

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“Denigration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denigration. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of denigration

noun

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