verb

criticize unfairly; disparage.

doom and gloom merchants who denigrate their own country

disparage,belittle,diminish,deprecate,cast aspersions on,decry,criticize unfairly,attack,speak ill of,speak badly of,blacken the character of,blacken the name of,give someone a bad name,sully the reputation of,spread lies about,defame,slander,libel,calumniate,besmirch,run down,abuse,insult,slight,revile,malign,vilify,slur,bad-mouth,do a hatchet job on,pull to pieces,pull apart,sling mud at,throw mud at,drag through the mud,rubbish,slag off,have a go at,slate,asperse,derogate,vilipend,vituperate