denigrate
verb
- to deny the importance or validity of
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈdɛn.ɪ.ɡɹeɪ̯t/ / /ˈden.ɪ.ɡɹeɪ̯t/ / /ˈden.ɪ.ɡɹæɪ̯t/
adj
Etymology: Derived from Latin dēnigrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēnigrō (“to blacken”) [see -ate (verb-forming suffix)], from dē- (“of; from”) + nigrō (“to blacken”) [from niger (“black”)]. Cognate with Middle English denigart(e) (“darkened, discolored”).
- Blackened.
verb
Etymology: Derived from Latin dēnigrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēnigrō (“to blacken”) [see -ate (verb-forming suffix)], from dē- (“of; from”) + nigrō (“to blacken”) [from niger (“black”)]. Cognate with Middle English denigart(e) (“darkened, discolored”).
- To criticize so as to besmirch; traduce, disparage or defame.
“What grand engines they were! Yet I have noticed a disposition on the part of quite a diversity of present-day commentators to denigrate those engines.”
“Although in public Soviet officials tend to denigrate the French electric locomotives imported recently, there is little doubt that lessons learnt from these engines will be incorporated in new Russian designs.”
- To treat as worthless; belittle, degrade or disparage.
“You have no right to denigrate people and things that you have no personal experience with.”
- To blacken.