Meaning of denigrate in English

1. Pronunciation

   /ˈdɛnəˌɡreɪt/

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   UK accent

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1. Verb

   denigrate

   Etymology

   late Middle English (in the sense ‘blacken, make dark’): from Latin denigrat-‘blackened’, from the verb denigrare, from de-‘away, completely’ + nigrare (from niger‘black’)

   Definitions

   1. belittle

   Examples

   • « Don't belittle his influence »
2. 2. charge falsely or with malicious intent

   Examples

   • « attack the good name and reputation of someone »
   • « The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation »