denigrate

verbs

cause to seem less serious; play down
"Don't belittle his influence"
belittle, denigrate, derogate, minimize
is derived from
denigrative
is derived from
denigration
is derived from
denigration
charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
"The journalists have defamed me!" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation"
asperse, besmirch, calumniate, defame, denigrate, slander, smear, smirch, sully
is derived from
denigratory
is derived from
denigration