denigrates

Tears someone down

Denigrates means to criticize unfairly or disparage, attacking someone's reputation or worth: He constantly denigrates his coworkers to make himself look better.

The word implies belittling—making something seem lesser than it is.

To denigrate an achievement is to diminish its significance; to denigrate a person is to speak of them with contempt.

verbal

disparages

Criticizes to diminish worth

belittlesDiminishes someone's worth
criticizesExpresses unfavorable judgment
demeansCauses loss of dignity

insults · slanders · maligns · defames · badmouths · ridicules · mocks · berates · denounces · vilifies

reputation

tarnishes

Corrodes on the surface

besmirchesDamages someone's good name
sulliesDamages purity or honor
stainsDiscolorations on surfaces

damages · blackens · discredits · dishonors · shames · taints · smears · undermines · ruins · destroys

systemic

discriminates

Treats unfairly by category

marginalizesRelegates to insignificance
dehumanizesStrips away personhood
stereotypesOversimplified beliefs about groups

subordinates · oppresses · prejudices · biases · excludes · demotes · patronizes · condescends · dismisses · trivializes

denigrates

disparages

tarnishes

discriminates

denigrates

Opposites

Categories

Family