Word
denigrate
Phoneticsden·i·grate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɛnəˌɡɹeɪt/
UK/dˈɛnɪɡɹˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to say bad things about someone or something to make them seem bad or unimportant. You use it when the criticism is unfair.
v. to attack the reputation or value of a person or thing through unfair criticism or false statements. Always takes a direct object.
Examples
“Please do not denigrate your classmates behind their backs.”
“The manager warned the team not to denigrate a rival product in front of clients.”
“Despite his rivals' efforts to denigrate his research, the historian's archive-based study gradually reshaped the field's understanding of the period.”
Examples
simple
“Please do not denigrate your classmates behind their backs.”
contextual
“The manager warned the team not to denigrate a rival product in front of clients.”
complex
“Despite his rivals' efforts to denigrate his research, the historian's archive-based study gradually reshaped the field's understanding of the period.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“The Asian style was regularly denigrated as ‘effeminate’.” “His refusal to denigrate human culture as being inferior to or incompatible with hard science is refreshing.” “Whereas Garry was rather admired as a “cad”, Geri is denigrated as a “cow”, although, stingingly, his disparagement of women as “bitches” stays in her mouth.” “On Sunday, current House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the meeting and denigrated Kushner’s importance, telling Fox News, “I don’t know what that’s about.” 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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/denigrate