What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
denigrate
Example
The politician denigrated his opponent's record during the debate. [denigrated: verb]
Example
Her reputation was denigrated by the false accusations made against her. [denigrated: past participle]
disparage
Example
He disparaged his colleague's work in front of their boss. [disparaged: verb]
Example
The article disparaged the author's writing style as amateurish. [disparaged: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disparage is more commonly used than denigrate in everyday language, especially in informal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between denigrate and disparage?
Denigrate is more formal than disparage and is often used in academic or professional settings where a higher level of formality is required.
