disgraced; disgracing; disgraces
1
: to be a source of shame to
Your actions disgraced the family.
2
: to cause to lose favor (see favor entry 1 sense 1a(2)) or standing
was disgraced by the hint of scandal
3
archaic
: to humiliate by a superior showing
thy whiteness … shall disgrace the swan—
Robert Browning
Robert Browning
disgracer
noun
1
a
: the condition of one fallen from grace : the condition of one who has lost honor (see honor entry 1 sense 1a)
left in disgrace
b
: loss of grace, favor, or honor
brought disgrace upon the family
2
: a source of shame
Your manners are a disgrace.
He's a disgrace to the profession.
Synonyms
Examples of disgrace in a Sentence
Verb
Many feel that the mayor has disgraced the town government by accepting personal favors from local businesspeople.
He felt he had disgraced himself by failing at school.
Noun
The secret was protected out of a fear of political disgrace.
Many feel that the mayor has brought disgrace upon the town.
She was forced to leave in disgrace.
His table manners are a disgrace.
The health-care system is a national disgrace.
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Recent Examples on the WebPaolo Confino, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
It’s got a bit more peril than the previous film, with the pups facing off against a new nemesis, an evil scientist named Victoria Vance (voiced by Taraji P. Henson), as well as their long-term antagonist, disgraced former Mayor Humdinger (voiced by Ron Pardo).
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
Now, Girardi stands disgraced, disbarred and charged in two states with bilking his clients.
—Siobhan O'Driscoll, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2023
Anyone expecting disgraced former Portage Mayor James Snyder to report to federal prison on Oct. 16 to begin serving a 21-month sentence in his cases for defrauding the IRS and public corruption can scratch that date off the calendar.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023
Or a cautionary tale, a mimic man whom Western letters seduced, then rejected and disgraced?
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
The issue is a particularly sensitive one at Michigan State, which was once home to disgraced U.S.A. gymnastics physician Larry Nasser.
—Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 10 Sep. 2023
Another price-of-fame subject, disgraced British fashion designer John Galliano, is a trickier prospect that does the director no favors.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2023
The Jeep did not disgrace itself at the Rovers North Off-Road school either, despite being outfitted in upscale Limited trim.
—Martin Padgett Jr., Car and Driver, 2 Aug. 2023
Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023
Clark Edgeware is an archaeologist in disgrace, Riley Rhodes is a curse breaker on the rise, and the infamous Scottish castle they’ve both been hired to investigate is the battleground.
—Olivia Waite, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2023
In this place, no one called him racist, or a disgrace, or sinvergüenza — someone without shame — for ignoring calls to step down in the wake ofa scandal that drew nationwide condemnation.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2023
That’s an increasingly untenable position, and has been a disgrace since news of the Malley probe first broke.
—The Editors, National Review, 27 Sep. 2023
The front-runner in the majority of polls by a whisper of a margin is Robert Fico, 59, a populist former prime minister who was forced out of power in disgrace five years ago and has made a comeback bid in a conspiracy theory-laden campaign, laced with pro-Russian and anti-American discourse.
—Ladka Bauerova, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2023
It may be related to the departures of two of the architects of the modern iteration of the club: Marc Overmars, the former sporting director, who left in disgrace, and Edwin van der Sar, the longstanding chief executive, who did not.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2023
The president's son is a disgrace to our great nation.
—Erica Brown, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2023
In 1865, Governor Evans was forced to resign in disgrace, according to the petition.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 16 Sep. 2023
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Verb
Some board members with ties to the effective altruism movement (which disgraced crypto executive Sam Bankman-Fried was also a proponent of) believe AI poses a grave threat to humanity.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
It’s got a bit more peril than the previous film, with the pups facing off against a new nemesis, an evil scientist named Victoria Vance (voiced by Taraji P. Henson), as well as their long-term antagonist, disgraced former Mayor Humdinger (voiced by Ron Pardo).
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
Now, Girardi stands disgraced, disbarred and charged in two states with bilking his clients.
—Siobhan O'Driscoll, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2023
Anyone expecting disgraced former Portage Mayor James Snyder to report to federal prison on Oct. 16 to begin serving a 21-month sentence in his cases for defrauding the IRS and public corruption can scratch that date off the calendar.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023
Or a cautionary tale, a mimic man whom Western letters seduced, then rejected and disgraced?
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
The issue is a particularly sensitive one at Michigan State, which was once home to disgraced U.S.A. gymnastics physician Larry Nasser.
—Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 10 Sep. 2023
Another price-of-fame subject, disgraced British fashion designer John Galliano, is a trickier prospect that does the director no favors.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2023
The Jeep did not disgrace itself at the Rovers North Off-Road school either, despite being outfitted in upscale Limited trim.
—Martin Padgett Jr., Car and Driver, 2 Aug. 2023
Noun
Gino Torretta won over Marshall Faulk, which was a disgrace.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023
Clark Edgeware is an archaeologist in disgrace, Riley Rhodes is a curse breaker on the rise, and the infamous Scottish castle they’ve both been hired to investigate is the battleground.
—Olivia Waite, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2023
In this place, no one called him racist, or a disgrace, or sinvergüenza — someone without shame — for ignoring calls to step down in the wake ofa scandal that drew nationwide condemnation.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2023
That’s an increasingly untenable position, and has been a disgrace since news of the Malley probe first broke.
—The Editors, National Review, 27 Sep. 2023
The front-runner in the majority of polls by a whisper of a margin is Robert Fico, 59, a populist former prime minister who was forced out of power in disgrace five years ago and has made a comeback bid in a conspiracy theory-laden campaign, laced with pro-Russian and anti-American discourse.
—Ladka Bauerova, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2023
It may be related to the departures of two of the architects of the modern iteration of the club: Marc Overmars, the former sporting director, who left in disgrace, and Edwin van der Sar, the longstanding chief executive, who did not.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2023
The president's son is a disgrace to our great nation.
—Erica Brown, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2023
In 1865, Governor Evans was forced to resign in disgrace, according to the petition.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 16 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disgrace.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing disgrace
Dictionary Entries Near disgrace
Cite this Entry
“Disgrace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disgrace. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
disgrace
2 of 2 noun1
: the condition of being looked down on : loss of respect
in disgrace with one's schoolmates
2
: dishonor entry 1 sense 1, shame
the disgrace of being a coward
3
: a cause of shame
that person's manners are a disgrace
disgraceful
adjective
dis-ˈgrās-fəl
disgracefully
adverb
-fə-lē
disgracefulness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on disgrace
Nglish: Translation of disgrace for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of disgrace for Arabic Speakers
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