as in disgrace
the state of having lost the esteem of others
to his everlasting discredit, the coach was found to have placed bets against his own team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
attempted to discredit her political opponents by deliberately spreading false rumors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deny
to think not to be true or real
I discredit the story that the old inn is haunted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to refute
to prove to be false
the pseudoscience of phrenology has been thoroughly discredited
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discredit
Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
At best, the discredit caused by this type of case only amplifies a disbelief that was present at the outset and is reactivated or reinforced on this occasion.
—David Chauvet, JSTOR Daily, 26 Mar. 2025
Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Blamed and discredited, the legendary warriors disband and go into hiding.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discredit
Noun
Extreme unfairness erodes trust, discredits markets, and invites rebellion.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
At best, the discredit caused by this type of case only amplifies a disbelief that was present at the outset and is reactivated or reinforced on this occasion.
—David Chauvet, JSTOR Daily, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
Elordi and Giannulli appeared to be going strong over the next two years, with sources discrediting breakup speculation to PEOPLE in January 2024 and as the two vacationed together in Italy the following September.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Blamed and discredited, the legendary warriors disband and go into hiding.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discredit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discredit
Noun
-
The substandard refereeing is a disgrace for the number one professional sport in America.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Some aspects of Project 2025 may be reasonable, but the performance-art style by which it’s implemented, and his governance in general, is a chaotic disgrace.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And videotaping it to humiliate them.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Dec. 2025
-
She had never been arrested before and felt humiliated when her mugshot was plastered all over the news after her arrest.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Protestors who were not arrested denied that any vandalism took place.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
McGillivray typically finds success in the paint with mid-range jumpers, but the Oaks Christian defense denied her for most of the game.—
Dan Rios,
Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Councilmember Ted Bui refuted those concerns and maintained his vocal support of adopting a charter.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The lawmakers have refuted those claims, arguing that the probe is an act of political intimidation.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Anger, relief, anxiety, numbness, shame—all of these are normal reactions.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
There’s no shame in a living room dance party.—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps the Germans have a word for the experience of watching your country’s leader embarrass himself and the country on the global stage.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The Pats are returning to the AFC Championship Game on a road paved by their defense, a defense that snatched four interceptions and embarrassed a precocious young quarterback.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Epstein’s young victims were also threatened and followed; they were grilled by his lawyers and disbelieved by prosecutors, who at times treated them like prostitutes, instead of victims.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
18 Dec. 2025
-
For many Americans, there might be a temptation to disbelieve the enormity of what has happened in the Gaza Strip.—
Lydia Polgreen,
Mercury News,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This does not negate the existence of hundreds of thousands of angry and disillusioned Mashhadis, but anger does not automatically translate into street mobilization.—
Davood Moradian,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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At the same time, rates here haven't declined so substantially as to negate the benefits of these accounts.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discredit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discredit. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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