delegitimizing
Stripping of credibility
Delegitimizing is undermining the legitimacy or authority of something—a government, institution, movement, or person.
The word implies a deliberate effort to erode credibility: The campaign aimed at delegitimizing the election results.
Critics accuse opponents of delegitimizing tactics when they attack foundational claims rather than specific policies: They're delegitimizing the entire court system.
Making something null
- nullifyingMaking of no effect
- annullingNullifying legally
- voidingNullifying or emptying
- abrogatingFormally repealing something
rescinding · quashing · repealing · revoking · overturning · vacating · negating · canceling
Damaging another's reputation
- defamingHarming reputation falsely
- slanderingMaking false damaging statements
- smearingSpreading by rubbing
- maligningSaying false, harmful things
vilifying · libeling · impugning · besmirching · tarnishing · calumniating · dishonoring · scandalizing
Pushing to the fringes
- ostracizingExcluding from a group
- excludingLeaving something out
- alienatingCausing emotional separation
- disenfranchisingRemoving civic participation rights
silencing · sidelining · othering · dehumanizing · pathologizing · criminalizing · stigmatizing · labeling
Weakening by covert means
- erodingGradually wearing away
- subvertingSeeking to overthrow
- destabilizingCausing loss of equilibrium
- weakeningBecoming less strong
sabotaging · compromising · diminishing · disempowering · hollowing out · chipping away · corroding · sapping
invalidating
Making something null
- nullifyingMaking of no effect
- annullingNullifying legally
- voidingNullifying or emptying
abrogating · rescinding · quashing · repealing · revoking · overturning · vacating · negating · canceling · abolishing
discrediting
Damaging another's reputation
- defamingHarming reputation falsely
- slanderingMaking false damaging statements
- smearingSpreading by rubbing
maligning · vilifying · libeling · impugning · besmirching · tarnishing · calumniating · dishonoring · scandalizing · traducing
marginalizing
Pushing to the fringes
- ostracizingExcluding from a group
- excludingLeaving something out
- alienatingCausing emotional separation
disenfranchising · silencing · sidelining · othering · dehumanizing · pathologizing · criminalizing · stigmatizing · labeling · stereotyping
undermining
Weakening by covert means
- erodingGradually wearing away
- subvertingSeeking to overthrow
- destabilizingCausing loss of equilibrium
weakening · sabotaging · compromising · diminishing · disempowering · hollowing out · chipping away · corroding · sapping · undercutting
- microaggressionsmicroaggression, othering, invalidation, dismissiveness, belittling
- removalremove, elimination, delete, erasing, erase
- vilificationvilification, vilifying, demonizing, demonisation, demonize
- sabotagesabotage, undermining, subversion, tampering, interference
delegitimizinglegitimizing
Conferring official status
legitimating · validating · authorizing · sanctioning · authenticating
delegitimizingendorsing
Publicly declaring approval
supporting · championing · upholding · defending · vindicating
legitimate, legit, legalize, illegitimate, legality, legislature, legalization, legitimize, illegitimacy