From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdenigrateden‧i‧grate /ˈdenəˈɡreɪt/ verb [transitive] CRITICIZEto say things to make someone or something seem less important or good people who denigrate their own country —denigration /ˌdenɪˈɡreɪʃən/ noun [uncountable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
denigrate• Instead he was denigrated, almost from the moment he emerged as a leader.• Rather than being denigrated and despised, he was admired for his courage, his steadfastness, his devotion to family.• Attempts to denigrate his playing simply because of his popularity are misplaced but regrettably widespread.• Women who refused to speak this denigrating language were considered scandalous and uncivil; worse, they were ineffective at accomplishing anything.• Government statements have also made a point of denigrating the achievements of the 1980 Literacy Crusade.• Speakers before the United States Chamber of Commerce rarely denigrate the businessman as an economic force.• The protestors were denigrating the primary symbol of the ordained ministry, they claimed, and thumbing their noses at the Church.• To say that it has been the poorer for it is not to denigrate the work that was done.• remarks that denigrate womenOrigin denigrate (1400-1500) Latin denigrare, from niger “black” 