Origin: Latin
suffix -ate
Denigrate has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
Verb
Verb
1
cause to seem less serious; play down
"Don't belittle his influence"
2
charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
"The journalists have defamed me!"
"The article in the paper sullied my reputation"
3
To criticise so as to besmirch; traduce, disparage or defame.
Example Sentences
"Don't belittle his influence"
verb
"The journalists have defamed me!"
verb
"The article in the paper sullied my reputation"
verb
Related Terms
Show all 26 terms ↓
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
Origin
The word comes from the Latin denigratus, meaning "to blacken." It combines the prefix de- with the root for black to describe making something dark or tarnishing its reputation.