denigrate

(v) cause to seem less serious; play down
- Don't belittle his influence
belittle, derogate, minimize,
(v) 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
asperse, besmirch, calumniate, defame, slander, smirch, sully, smear,

belittle derogate minimize asperse besmirch calumniate defame slander smirch sully smear