dénigrer

Dénigrer is a French transitive verb meaning to belittle, disparage, or denigrate someone or something by presenting them in an undervalued or negative light. The act implies a biased or injurious portrayal rather than a fair critique, and it can apply to a person, a reputation, a work, a policy, or an idea. The term carries a negative, accusatory tone and is commonly used in discussions of criticism, politics, or media.

Etymology: The verb is formed from the prefix dé- plus nigrer, itself linked to the Latin niger meaning black. The literal sense is to “make black,” i.e., to smear or tarnish someone’s reputation, which developed into the figurative sense of denigrating.

Conjugation: Dénigrer is a regular -er verb. Present tense examples: je dénigre, tu dénigres, il dénigre, nous dénigrons, vous dénigrez, ils dénigrent. Other common forms include passé composé: j’ai dénigré; imperfect: je dénigrais; future: je dénigrai. The present participle is dénigrant and the past participle is dénigré. The noun form is dénigrement; a person who denigrates is a dénigreur (rare).

Usage notes: Dénigrer often implies motive or bias and is distinguished from neutral or constructive criticism by its aim to undermine rather than evaluate fairly. It is frequently found in discussions about media reporting, public discourse, and interpersonal conflicts. Example: “Il dénigre systématiquement les efforts des autres.”