Denigrate
/ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt/
verbC1
Definition
Denigrate means to criticize someone or something in a way that is unfair or hurtful. It often involves saying things that make the person or idea look bad, even if those things are not true or are exaggerated.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
To speak badly or unfairly about a person
- •He denigrated his opponent during the debate to make himself look stronger.
- •It’s wrong to denigrate someone just because they have different ideas.
- •She felt hurt when her coworkers denigrated her work.
To criticize or damage the reputation of something
- •Some people denigrate new technology without understanding it.
- •The article denigrated the company’s efforts unfairly.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "denigrate" like "say bad things," but with a stronger and more unfair meaning—it tries to make someone look much worse
- ✓Picture someone throwing dark paint on a bright picture to make it look dirty and ugly
- ✓It's the feeling when someone talks behind your back and makes you feel small or unimportant
- ✓Sounds like "DEN-ih-grate" → imagine someone cutting down a tree ("den" like "dent") to make it smaller or weaker
- ✓In stories, villains often denigrate heroes to make themselves look better
- ✓NOT like "criticize" (which can be fair and helpful), denigrate is usually unfair and meant to hurt
- ✓NOT like "praise" (to say good things); denigrate is the opposite, to say bad things
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (to pay no attention); denigrate actively attacks or speaks badly
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Belittle: to make someone or something seem less important (Use when you want to show small or unimportant)
- •Disparage: to speak badly about someone or something (Use in formal or serious contexts)
- •Slander: to say false and damaging things about someone (Use when the bad talk is not true and harms reputation)
- •Mock: to make fun of someone (Use when the bad talk is to joke or laugh at someone)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "de-" (down, away) + "nigr-" (from Latin "niger" meaning black) + "-ate" (verb ending)
- •Etymology: From Latin "denigrare," meaning "to blacken" or "to make black," which means to spoil someone's reputation by making them look bad
- •Historical development: Originally meant to make something black or dark; later used to mean damaging someone's reputation by words
- •Modern usage: Used to describe unfair or mean speech that lowers someone’s value or reputation
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can denigrating someone ever be helpful, or is it always harmful? Why?
•How do you feel when you hear someone denigrate a person or idea you care about?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.People often denigrate others when they feel ___ or jealous.
2.When someone denigrates your work, it can make you feel ___ and less confident.
3.Unlike fair criticism, denigrate usually means ___ or unfair speaking.
4.To denigrate someone is to ___ their reputation by saying bad things.
5.In some conversations, people denigrate ideas to ___ their own opinions.
6.She did not just disagree; she tried to denigrate him by ___ his achievements.
7.When a person is denigrated publicly, it often causes ___ and hurt feelings.