What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Denigrate vs Sully - What's the difference?

denigrate | sully | Related terms |

Sully is a synonym of denigrate.



In transitive terms the difference between denigrate and sully

is that denigrate is to treat as worthless; belittle, degrade or disparage while sully is to damage or corrupt.

denigrate

English

Verb

(denigrat)
  • To criticise so as to besmirch; traduce, disparage or defame.
  • To treat as worthless; belittle, degrade or disparage.
  • (rare) To blacken.

    • Derived terms

    * denigration * denigratory

    sully

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Verb

  • to soil or stain; to dirty
    • He did not wish to sully his hands with gardening.
  • * Roscommon
    • statues sullied yet with sacrilegious smoke
  • to damage or corrupt
    • He did not wish to sully his reputation with an ill-mannered comment.
  • * Atterbury
    • no spots to sully the brightness of this solemnity
  • To become soiled or tarnished.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Silvering will sully and canker more than gilding.