dis·hon·or | \ (ˌ)dis-ˈä-nər 
also (ˌ)diz- \
also (ˌ)diz- \Definition of dishonor
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : lack or loss of honor or reputation
2 : the state of one who has lost honor or prestige : shame has brought dishonor on his family
3 : a cause of disgrace
4 : the nonpayment or nonacceptance of commercial paper by the party on whom it is drawn
dishonor
verbdishonored; dishonoring; dishonors
Definition of dishonor (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : to treat in a degrading manner
b : to bring shame on
2 : to refuse to accept or pay (something, such as a bill or check)
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Other Words from dishonor
Noun
dishonorer \ (ˌ)dis-ˈän-ər-ər also (ˌ)diz- \ noun
also (ˌ)diz- \ nounSynonyms & Antonyms for dishonor
Synonyms: Noun
- discredit,
- disesteem,
- disgrace,
- disrepute,
- ignominy,
- infamy,
- obloquy,
- odium,
- opprobrium,
- reproach,
- shame
Synonyms: Verb
- abase,
- chasten,
- cheapen,
- debase,
- degrade,
- demean,
- discredit,
- disgrace,
- foul,
- humble,
- humiliate,
- lower,
- shame,
- sink,
- smirch,
- take down
Antonyms: Noun
Antonyms: Verb
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Examples of dishonor in a Sentence
Noun
warriors who choose death before dishonor
He is afraid that his confession will bring dishonor on the family. Verb
She dishonored her oath of office.
The bank dishonored my check.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Their statement brings dishonor to the court and tarnishes the reputation of the judicial system.
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Arkansas Online, "OPINION | OTHERS SAY: Marriage law must stand," 15 Nov. 2020 Historically, suicide was seen in Japan as a way to escape shame and dishonor, while seeking psychological help was stigmatized.
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Washington Post, "Japan and South Korea see surge of suicides among young women, raising new questions about pandemic stress," 29 Nov. 2020 Thus taking one’s dishonor forward into all eternity.
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George Saunders, The New Yorker, "Ghoul," 2 Nov. 2020 But Trump’s style and his substance are intertwined—something that was abundantly clear in the second debate, a vicious cavalcade of dishonor and dishonesty.
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Alex Shephard, The New Republic, "In Memoriam: The Trump Pivot," 22 Oct. 2020 Florida, for once, could be a clarion of clarity on the night of Nov. 3 or the next day — and other states could get the dishonor of leaving the presidential results unknown for days, weeks or even months.
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Anthony Man, sun-sentinel.com, "Could Florida, for once, be a beacon of clarity on Election Night? Or will it be just another cluster of chaos?," 9 Oct. 2020 According to the Tax Foundation, Arkansas has the second highest combined state and local sales taxes in the country at 9.53 percent--quite the dishonor.
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Arkansas Online, "OPINION | JOSHUA M. SILVERSTEIN: Say no to a terrible new tax," 4 Oct. 2020 But Saturday’s 52-10 loss to the Hurricanes will go down in history as one of the Seminoles’ worst performances ever, and there have been a growing number of candidates for that dishonor over the last handful of years.
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Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, "Opinion: Texas Tech's late-game implosion gives it easy case for top spot in Misery Index," 28 Sep. 2020 The removal of monuments and relics of the Confederacy, and other vestiges of slavery and national dishonor, is proceeding at an unprecedented pace and scale, historians say.
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Washington Post, "Four principles to guide us on whose statues should topple and whose should remain," 21 Sep. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Harris said no other decision would dishonor and disrespect Ginsburg's legacy than overturning Roe v. Wade.
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Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, "'You have the power': Kamala Harris urges voters to oppose Trump, Senate GOP over Supreme Court nominee," 29 Sep. 2020 No word on whether Trump's blatant attempts to dishonor the dying wishes of a Supreme Court justice and cast doubt on her family's story is considered appalling or disrespectful, however.
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Photo: Alex Edelman/afp/getty Images., refinery29.com, "“Vote Him Out”: A Crowd Heckled Trump While He Visited Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Casket," 24 Sep. 2020 Do not dishonor them by clashing against each other.
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New York Times, "An Empty Parking Lot, Filled by El Paso’s Grief," 9 Aug. 2019 To forgive would dishonor her pain and her children’s.
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Antonia Farzan, Washington Post, "Stories of forgiveness," 20 Dec. 2019 To treat that as something of lesser value than personal fame, is really to dishonor him and the players.
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Ronald Blum, baltimoresun.com, "Long bypassed, union leader Marvin Miller elected to Baseball Hall of Fame by modern committee; Simmons in, too," 8 Dec. 2019 The president has been rightly excoriated for these pardons, which dishonor the U.S. military and may degrade good order and discipline.
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Gil Barndollar, Twin Cities, "Gil Barndollar: Endless wars are corrupting our military and distracting the U.S. from bigger global threats," 12 Dec. 2019 Disrespecting the warbonnet is a grievous wrong and dishonors the likes of all who earned them with pride, like Sitting Bull and Rain-in-the-Face.
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Ruth Hopkins, Teen Vogue, "Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Dos and Donts," 12 Nov. 2019 He was accused of personal and political betrayal and of dishonoring US sacrifices to liberate France in World War II.
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Stephen Collinson And Caitlin Hu, CNN, "Meanwhile in America: "A corrupt human tornado"," 27 Sep. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dishonor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for dishonor
dishonor
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of dishonor
(Entry 1 of 2)
somewhat formal : loss or lack of honor : damage to your reputation and loss of respect from other people
dishonor
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of dishonor (Entry 2 of 2)
somewhat formal
: to cause (someone or something) to lose honor : to cause (someone or something) to no longer be respected
: to fail to do what is required by (a promise, contract, etc.) : to fail to honor (something)
of a bank : to refuse to give out the money promised by (a check)
See the full definition for dishonor in the English Language Learners Dictionary
dishonor
noundis·hon·or | \ dis-ˈä-nər \
\Kids Definition of dishonor
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : loss of honor or good name
He felt retreat would bring dishonor.
2 : a cause of disgrace
Her failure was a family dishonor.
dishonor
verbdishonored; dishonoring
Kids Definition of dishonor (Entry 2 of 2)
: to bring shame on : disgrace He dishonored his parents.
dishonor
noundis·hon·or
Legal Definition of dishonor
(Entry 1 of 2)
: refusal on the part of the issuer (as a bank) to pay or accept commercial paper (as a check) when it is presented — see also wrongful dishonor
dishonor
transitive verbLegal Definition of dishonor (Entry 2 of 2)
: to refuse to pay or accept
a bank dishonoring the checks for insufficient funds
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Comments on dishonor
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Time Traveler for dishonor
The first known use of dishonor was in the 13th century
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