Denigrate

//ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt// adj, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Blackened.
Verb
  1. 1
    To criticise so as to besmirch; traduce, disparage or defame. transitive

    "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."

  2. 2
    charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone wordnet
  3. 3
    To treat as worthless; belittle, degrade or disparage. transitive

    "You have no right to denigrate people and things that you have no personal experience with."

  4. 4
    cause to seem less serious; play down wordnet
  5. 5
    To blacken. rare

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin dēnigrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēnigrō (“to blacken”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dē + nigrō (“to blacken”) (from niger (“black”)). Cognate with Middle English denigart(e) (“darkened, discolored”).

Etymology 2

From Latin dēnigrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēnigrō (“to blacken”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dē + nigrō (“to blacken”) (from niger (“black”)). Cognate with Middle English denigart(e) (“darkened, discolored”).

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: denigrate