denigrate

动词 denigrate:

1. cause to seem less serious; play down
   同义词：minimize, belittle, derogate
2. charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
   同义词：defame, slander, smirch, asperse, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch

den.i.grate

v.tr.（及物动词）
den.i.grat.ed,den.i.grat.ing,den.i.grates
To attack the character or reputation of; speak ill of; defame.
诋毁：攻击人格或名誉；说坏话；诽谤
To disparage; belittle:
贬低：轻视；贬低：
例句：
The critics have denigrated our efforts.
评论家贬低了我们的努力

来源：
Latin dônigr3re dônigr3t- [to blacken, defame]
拉丁语 dônigr3re dônigr3t- [抹黑，诽谤]
dô- [de-]
dô- [前缀，表示.否定.]
niger nigr- [black]
niger nigr- [黑]

【引伸】
den.igra.tion
n.（名词）
den.igra.tor
n.（名词）