Denigrate
/ˈdɛn.ɪ.ɡreɪt/noun
To criticize unfairly or disparage.
Did you know?The word 'denigrate' derives from Latin roots that literally imply 'to make dark', linking it to ideas of shadow and negative judgment.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
denigratus
“To blacken or make dark.”
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
denigrare
“To defame or slander.”
16th Century
English
denigrate
“To speak ill of or disparage.”
Modern English
English
denigrate
“To belittle or criticize unfairly.”