Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ


A.Word.A.Day--denigrate

Pronunciation RealAudio

denigrate (DEN-i-grayt) verb tr.

To defame or belittle.

[From Latin denigratus, past participle of denigrare (to blacken), from de- (completely) + nigrare (to make black), ultimately from Indo-European root nek(w)t (night). Other words derived from the same root are night, nocturnal, and equinox.]

See more usage examples of denigrate in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

"He told them they were not expected to be Sunday-school teachers. 'But often you feel compelled to berate and denigrate people you have to apprehend, but your behaviour must not blur your image as a police officer.'" Ucill Cambridge; Mind Your Manners, Cops Told; Trinidad and Tobago Express; Jun 14, 2004.

"It found most (films) contain characters portrayed as 'crazy,' 'nuts' and 'mad' and who were shunned and denigrated as a result." Disney Cartoons Give Mentally Ill a Rough Ride, Canadian Study Says; Montreal Gazette (Canada); May 20, 2004.

This week's theme: words to highlight rankism.

X-Bonus

He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. -Immanuel Kant, philosopher (1724-1804)

What they say

“Garg works in the great tradition of Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis... Garg, however, is more fun.”

Minneapolis Star Tribune


More articles

Anu Garg on words

“A right word is the most direct route between two minds.”

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith