derogate

3 synonyms and 5 antonyms for derogate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — (law) To cancel part of a law, rather than all of it.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

minimize

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

denigrate belittle

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

(law) To cancel part of a law, rather than all of it.

denigrate belittle minimize

2. verb

To criticise something in a way that makes it seem less good or important.

“When the need for self-affirmation is satisfied through other means, one is less compelled to derogate members of negatively stereotyped groups.”

Opposites

enhance extol praise esteem exalt

Etymology

Inherited from Late Middle English derogaten, from derogat(e) (“annulled, abrogated”, used participially and later as the past participle of derogaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix) borrowed from Latin dērogātus, perfect passive participle of dērogō (“to annul, repeal part of a law, take away, detract from”) (see -ate (v...

Full origin of derogate →

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praise enhance esteem minimize extol exalt denigrate belittle

Nearby words

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