Synonyms of discredit

discredit 1 of 2

noun

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

• disgrace
• shame
• contempt
• dishonor
• disrepute
• disdain
• humiliation
• infamy
• stigma
• odium
• reproach
• ignominy
• opprobrium
• scandal
• disesteem
• obloquy
• taint
• disapproval
• scorn
• despite
• degradation
• stain
• disapprobation
• debasement
• dust
• slur
• brand
• blot
• deprecation
• debasing
• disfavor
• abasement
• smirch
• spot
• humbling
• shadow

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• respect
• honor
• esteem
• regard
• admiration
• fear
• appreciation
• estimation
• glory
• fame
• reverence
• awe
• repute
• renown

discredit

2 of 2

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈkre-dət 

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

• humiliate
• embarrass
• confuse
• demean
• degrade
• shame
• humble
• disgrace
• debase
• dishonor
• insult
• cheapen
• criticize
• rattle
• chasten
• take down
• disparage
• diminish
• abase
• minimize
• lower
• foul
• belittle
• ridicule
• smirch
• detract
• sink
• defame
• confound
• mortify
• disconcert
• slander
• malign
• decry
• condemn
• discountenance
• faze
• libel
• depreciate
• discount
• castigate
• discomfit
• fluster
• denounce
• defile
• affront
• write off
• bad-mouth
• abash
• cry down
• put down
• nonplus
• censure
• damn
• execrate
• reprehend
• reprobate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elevate
• exalt
• commend
• aggrandize
• honor
• recognize
• celebrate
• cite
• applaud
• congratulate
• praise
• canonize
• compliment
• acknowledge
• deify
• cheer
• laud
• boast
• extol
• tout
• salute
• decorate
• eulogize
• highlight
• hail
• acclaim
• promote
• glorify
• dignify
• fete
• magnify
• advance
• ennoble
• spotlight
• raise
• play up
• lift
• enshrine
• uplift
• boost
• enthrone
• upgrade
• idealize
• romanticize
• ensky

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

• deny
• disbelieve
• negate
• doubt
• refute
• disprove
• reject
• distrust
• suspect
• mistrust
• debunk
• deride
• repudiate
• scoff (at)
• pooh-pooh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• believe
• accept
• trust
• swallow
• credit

3

as in to refute

to prove to be false

the pseudoscience of phrenology has been thoroughly discredited

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refute
• disprove
• overturn
• rebut
• falsify
• challenge
• debunk
• confute
• confound
• discuss
• belie
• disconfirm
• shoot down
• overthrow
• question
• doubt
• give the lie to
• contest
• debate
• talk over
• mistrust
• query
• moot
• hash (over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prove
• establish
• verify
• confirm
• validate
• show
• support
• record
• document
• witness
• identify
• substantiate
• evidence
• corroborate
• certify
• demonstrate
• back (up)
• illustrate
• evince
• manifest
• display
• buttress
• adduce
• authenticate
• attest

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of discredit

Noun

Phillips also found sufficient evidence to determine that Weaver violated policy by making remarks to the officer and the Heritage Creek police chief that brought discredit upon him as a member of LMPD. — Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Nov. 2025

Messaging must make distinctions, but also avoid getting lost in parenthetic abstractions or potentially easier-to-discredit targets. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025

Verb

Stafford played the Bears that week, and Jones needed to find a way to discredit Stafford and elevate Caleb Williams. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

This is the result of a campaign to discredit RCV with misinformation by politicians threatened by it. — Paul Haughey, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026