1. (verb)minimize, belittle, denigrate, derogate cause to seem less serious; playdown "Don't belittle his influence"
2. (verb)defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the goodname and reputation of someone "The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation"
Definition of 'denigrate'
