disrepute

noun

dis·​re·​pute ˌdis-ri-ˈpyüt How to pronounce disrepute (audio)
: lack or decline of good reputation : a state of being held in low esteem

Did you know?

When to Use Disrepute

A reputation can be easy to lose, and someone who is no longer respectable may eventually find he's become genuinely disreputable—the kind of person that almost no one wants to be seen with. Disrepute isn't only for individuals: A company may fall into disrepute as a result of news stories about its products' defects; drug scandals have brought entire sports into disrepute; and a scientific theory may fall into disrepute as a result of new discoveries.

Choose the Right Synonym for disrepute

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

Examples of disrepute in a Sentence

The theory has been in disrepute for years. a once proud name fallen into disrepute
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The charges include violations of the general principles of conduct, basic rules of decent conduct, using sporting events for non-sporting manifestations, and bringing the sport and UEFA into disrepute. Colin Millar, The Athletic, 19 July 2024 Employees are subject to boilerplate rules on not bringing the BBC into disrepute, per contractual clauses seen by Deadline. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2024 Thus, the American version of capitalism is, if not in full disrepute, then at least no longer dominant. Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011 Anyway, Portia managed to cover the whole thing up to avoid disrepute. Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 15 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for disrepute 

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disrepute was in 1637

Dictionary Entries Near disrepute

Cite this Entry

“Disrepute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disrepute. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

disrepute

noun
dis·​re·​pute ˌdis-ri-ˈpyüt How to pronounce disrepute (audio)
: loss or lack of good reputation : disgrace

More from Merriam-Webster on disrepute

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!