Denigrate
verb
charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
“The journalists have defamed me!”
Similar: defame, slander, smirch, asperse, calumniate, smear
verb
cause to seem less serious; play down
“Don't belittle his influence”
Similar: minimize, belittle, derogate
Word family
denigrative · denigrated · denigrating