dishonorable

adjective

dis·​hon·​or·​able (ˌ)dis-ˈä-nə-rə-bəl 

-ˈä-nər-bəl

1

: lacking honor : shameful

dishonorable conduct

2

archaic : not honored

dishonorableness noun

dishonorably

(ˌ)dis-ˈä-nə-rə-blē 

-ˈä-nər-blē

adverb

Synonyms of dishonorable

• vile
• immoral
• dirty
• nasty
• cruel
• contemptible
• ignoble
• vicious
• despicable
• detestable
• corrupt
• ignominious
• sordid
• bad

Examples of dishonorable in a Sentence

His dishonorable behavior has shamed the family.

resorted to dishonorable tactics in order to win the game

Recent Examples on the Web

Connecticut has an association with witchcraft that’s as long and dishonorable as anything that happened in Massachusetts. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026

Finally, a dishonorable mention of Matthew Tkachuk’s slew foot that took Mark Scheifele out of the 2020 playoff qualifying round. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Getty Images When the obituary of traditional management is eventually written, an article tucked inside the current issue of Harvard Business Review will earn a dishonorable mention. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

Very dishonorable people to deal with. — Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dishonorable

• dishonorable discharge

Rhymes for dishonorable

• honorable
• honourable

Kids Definition

dishonorable

adjective

dis·​hon·​or·​able -ˈän-(ə-)rə-bəl 

-ˈän-ər-bəl

: not honorable : shameful

dishonorable conduct

dishonorably

-blē 

adverb