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