denigrate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb cause to seem less serious; play down
    minimize; derogate; belittle.
    • Don't belittle his influence
  2. verb charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
    sully; smirch; smear; defame; asperse; slander; calumniate; besmirch.
    • The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation

WordNet

Den"i*grate transitive verb
Etymology
L. denigrare; de- + nigrare to blacken, niger black.
Definitions
  1. To blacken thoroughly; to make very black. Boyle.
  2. Fig.: To blacken or sully; to defame. R.
    To denigrate the memory of Voltaire. Morley.

Webster 1913