the act of disparaging or belittling the reputation or worth of a person, work, etc.

noun

admiration , adulation , flattery , praise

noun

abuse , aspersion , backbiting * , backstabbing , belittlement , calumny , damage , defamation , denigration , deprecation , derogation , disesteem , disparagement , harm , hit , hurt , injury , injustice , innuendo , insinuation , knock * , libel , libeling , lie , maligning , minimization , muckraking , obloquy , pejorative , revilement , ridicule , running down , scandal , scandalmongering , scurrility , slam , smear campaign * , tale , traducement , traducing , vilification , vituperation , wrong , depreciation , calumniation , character assassination , slander , backbiting