denigrative

9.3

Saying things to make someone look bad, often unfair or untrue

adjective
/ˈdɛnɪɡrətɪv/

Offensive

: denigratorio

Politicians often use denigrative language to discredit their opponents during campaigns.

Examples

Don't make denigrative remarks about others!
The article contained many denigrative remarks aimed at the company's leadership.
Her denigrative comments about his work were both unfair and unfounded.
His denigrative comments are harmful.
The article contained many denigrative remarks about the actress, which damaged her reputation.
His denigrative comments about the team's performance upset the players.
She was hurt by the denigrative remarks her colleagues made behind her back.

Synonyms

damaging

vsdenigrative

40 4.6

Likely or intended to harm a person's reputation by saying bad things about them

emphasizes attacking character rather than general harmful consequences

derogatory

vsdenigrative

39 6.9

Expressing an insulting, disrespectful view of someone or something

tends to be harsher and intended to actively malign the person

defamatory

vsdenigrative

Formal

11 7.9

False statements about a person or group that harm their reputation

is the more general term including both false and harsh attacks

slanderous

vsdenigrative

11 7.3

False and harmful statements that damage a person's reputation

also covers written or other harmful remarks beyond spoken lies

libelous

vsdenigrative

8 8.4

A statement with false words that harm someone's reputation

covers such published attacks but also informal or private disparagement

disparaging

vsdenigrative

Offensive

1 7.0

Showing a low opinion of someone or something

is stronger, aiming to discredit rather than just show disrespect

calumnious

vsdenigrative

Formal

1 9.9

False statements meant to hurt someone's reputation

is broader, covering harmful remarks that are not always false

calumniatory

vsdenigrative

Formal

9.9

False statements that try to harm someone's reputation

is similar but may include unfair criticism that is not provably false

denigrating

vsdenigrative

7.7

Harming someone's reputation by saying unfair or untrue things

focuses more on harm through discrediting than on simple disrespect

denigratory

vsdenigrative

Offensive

8.9

Giving unfair critical comments that make someone seem worse

is the same harmful intent but may stress active disparagement

derogative

vsdenigrative

8.1

Showing a bad opinion of someone to make them seem less important

is more focused on insulting worth than on damaging reputation legally

dislogistic

vsdenigrative

Formal

9.9

Showing disapproval by insulting or criticizing someone

is usually more damaging and may include false accusations

highly derogatory

vsdenigrative

Offensive

7.5

Very insulting and likely to deeply offend people

is similar in insult but may not always aim to destroy reputation

Antonyms

praiseworthy

5 4.5

Deserving approval or admiration

commendatory

Literature

7.5

Showing praise for someone or something

How Disparaging

vitriolic

Offensive

10 9.3

denigrative

Offensive

9.3

derogatory

39 6.9

disparaging

Offensive

1 7.0

dismissive

43 5.6

critical

210 3.8

Surface Forms

denigrative positive

Morphology

denigrative = denigrate (transparent) = denigrate + ive

A regular adjective formed from the verb 'denigrate' with '-ive'; the meaning 'expressing or tending to denigrate' is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Denigrative comes from the Latin parts de- and niger, where niger means 'black' and together they give the idea 'to blacken'. So a denigrative comment is like trying to 'blacken' someone's name, to make them look bad or to say harmful things about them.