Denigrate (original) (raw)
I. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
Example:
The article in the paper sullied my reputation
Synonyms:
asperse; besmirch; calumniate; defame; denigrate; slander; smear; smirch; sully
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "denigrate" is one way to...):
accuse; charge (blame for, make a claim of wrongdoing or misbehavior against)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "denigrate"):
assassinate (destroy or damage seriously, as of someone's reputation)
libel (print slanderous statements against)
badmouth; drag through the mud; malign; traduce (speak unfavorably about)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Derivation:
denigration (an abusive attack on a person's character or good name)
denigratory ((used of statements) harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Cause to seem less serious; play down
Example:
Don't belittle his influence
Synonyms:
belittle; denigrate; derogate; minimize
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "denigrate" is one way to...):
belittle; disparage; pick at (express a negative opinion of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "denigrate"):
talk down (belittle through talk)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
denigration (the act of expressing disapproval (especially of yourself))
denigration (a belittling comment)
denigrative ((used of statements) harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign)