動詞 denigrate:

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

den.i.grate

v.tr.（及物動詞）
den.i.grat.ed,den.i.grat.ing,den.i.grates
To attack the character or reputation of; speak ill of; defame.
詆毀：攻擊人格或名譽；說壞話；誹謗
To disparage; belittle:
貶低：輕視；貶低：
例句：
The critics have denigrated our efforts.
評論家貶低了我們的努力

來源：
Latin dônigr3re dônigr3t- [to blacken, defame]
拉丁語 dônigr3re dônigr3t- [抹黑，誹謗]
dô- [de-]
dô- [前綴，表示.否定.]
niger nigr- [black]
niger nigr- [黑]

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