What is the meaning of denigrating?

verb

• Cause to seem less serious; play down.
  • usage: "Don't belittle his influence"
  • synonyms: minimize, belittle, denigrate, derogate
• Charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone.
  • usage: "The journalists have defamed me" "The article in the paper sullied my reputation"
  • synonyms: defame, slander, smirch, asperse, denigrate, calumniate, smear, sully, besmirch

adjective

• Used of statements. ( harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign).
  • synonyms: calumniatory, calumnious, defamatory, denigrative, denigratory, libellous, libelous, slanderous