disgrace

¹dis·grace

transitive verb \di-ˈskrās, dis-ˈgrās\

Definition of DISGRACE

1

archaic : to humiliate by a superior showing

2

: to be a source of shame to <your actions disgraced the family>

3

: to cause to lose favor or standing <was disgraced by the hint of scandal>

— dis·grac·er noun

Examples of DISGRACE

1. Many feel that the mayor has disgraced the town government by accepting personal favors from local businesspeople.
2. He felt he had disgraced himself by failing at school.

First Known Use of DISGRACE

1580

Related to DISGRACE

Synonyms

abase, chasten, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, humble, dishonor, foul, humiliate, lower, shame, sink, smirch, take down

Antonyms

aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt

Related Words

abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle; belittle, castigate, criticize, cry down, decry, depreciate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, ridicule, write off; bad-mouth, defame, defile, libel, malign, slander; affront, insult; censure, condemn, damn, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate

Near Antonyms

acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol (also extoll), fete (or fête), hail, honor, laud, praise, salute, tout; acknowledge, recognize; highlight, play up, spotlight; dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, glorify, magnify; advance, boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift; idealize, romanticize

Rhymes with DISGRACE

abase, airspace, Alsace, ambsace, apace, backspace, best-case, biface, birthplace, blackface, boldface, bookcase, bootlace, braincase, briefcase, clubface, crankcase, cyclase, debase, deface, displace, dogface, doughface, efface, embrace, emplace, encase, enchase, enlace, erase, euclase, firebase, fireplace, footpace, footrace, foreface, freebase, gyrase, half-space, hard case, headspace, hydrase, Jerez, kinase, lactase, lightface, lipase, lyase, maltase, manes, millrace, milreis, misplace, mutase, notecase, null-space, nutcase, outface, outpace, outrace, paleface, postface, Quilmes, replace, scapegrace, shoelace, showcase, showplace, slipcase, smearcase, someplace, staircase, subbase, subspace, suitcase, tailrace, tenace, typeface, ukase, unbrace, unlace, watchcase, wheelbase, whey-face, whiteface, workplace, worst-case

²disgrace

noun

Definition of DISGRACE

1

a : the condition of one fallen from grace or honor

b : loss of grace, favor, or honor

2

: a source of shame <your manners are a disgrace> <he's a disgrace to the profession>

Examples of DISGRACE

1. The secret was protected out of a fear of political disgrace.
2. Many feel that the mayor has brought disgrace upon the town.
3. She was forced to leave in disgrace.
4. His table manners are a disgrace.
5. The health-care system is a national disgrace.

Origin of DISGRACE

Middle French, from Old Italian disgrazia, from dis- (from Latin) + grazia grace, from Latin gratia — more at grace

First Known Use: 1586

Related to DISGRACE

Synonyms

discredit, disesteem, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame

Antonyms

esteem, honor, respect

Related Words

scandal; contempt, despite, disdain, scorn; deprecation, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor; abasement, debasement, debasing, degradation, dust, humbling, humiliation; blot, brand, shadow, slur, smirch, spot, stain, stigma, taint

Near Antonyms

admiration, appreciation, estimation, regard; awe, fear, reverence; fame, glory, renown, repute

Synonym Discussion of DISGRACE

disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, infamy, ignominy mean the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach. disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism <sent home in disgrace>. dishonor emphasizes the loss of honor that one has enjoyed or the loss of self-esteem <preferred death to life with dishonor>. disrepute stresses loss of one's good name or the acquiring of a bad reputation <a once proud name fallen into disrepute>. infamy usually implies notoriety as well as exceeding shame <a day that lives in infamy>. ignominy stresses humiliation <the ignominy of being arrested>.