v 1: belittle; "Don't belittle his influence" [syn: minimize, belittle, derogate]
2: 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" [syn: defame, slander, smirch, asperse, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch]