1
as in humiliating
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denying
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 refuting
to prove to be false
the pseudoscience of phrenology has been thoroughly discredited
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of discrediting
Orbán’s rule was marked by a sprawling media ecosystem, which for years served as a loyal mouthpiece for his Fidesz party while discrediting, defaming and intimidating his opponents.
—
ABC News, 18 May 2026
My fear is that poor implementation and, above all, a failure to take accountability seriously will end up discrediting good ideas.
—Rachel Canter, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
In April 2024, Hayden agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty for violating conflict of interest law by allowing his office to issue an official press statement aimed at discrediting his primary opponent, Arroyo, days before the election.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Henry’s wife Yasmin (Marisa Abela) ultimately convinces Hayley to accuse Dycker of assault, discrediting his story about Tender, and weaponizing #MeToo-era politics.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Politically, the regime has rotted from within, discarding, discrediting, or detaining its own kind.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
Megan thee Stallion, legal name Megan Pete, sued Milagro Cooper last year for defamation, accusing her of working with Tory Lanez on discrediting her during his own trial with Pete where he was convicted of shooting her in the foot.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
On Thursday, India’s Press Information Bureau dismissed earlier social-media posts claiming that a Tejas aircraft had an oil leak during the air show, saying they were aimed at discrediting the fighter’s established technical reliability with unfounded claims, according to The Associated Press.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
ABC News, 18 May 2026
My fear is that poor implementation and, above all, a failure to take accountability seriously will end up discrediting good ideas.
—Rachel Canter, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
In April 2024, Hayden agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty for violating conflict of interest law by allowing his office to issue an official press statement aimed at discrediting his primary opponent, Arroyo, days before the election.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Henry’s wife Yasmin (Marisa Abela) ultimately convinces Hayley to accuse Dycker of assault, discrediting his story about Tender, and weaponizing #MeToo-era politics.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Politically, the regime has rotted from within, discarding, discrediting, or detaining its own kind.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
Megan thee Stallion, legal name Megan Pete, sued Milagro Cooper last year for defamation, accusing her of working with Tory Lanez on discrediting her during his own trial with Pete where he was convicted of shooting her in the foot.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
On Thursday, India’s Press Information Bureau dismissed earlier social-media posts claiming that a Tejas aircraft had an oil leak during the air show, saying they were aimed at discrediting the fighter’s established technical reliability with unfounded claims, according to The Associated Press.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discrediting
Verb
-
In her report, Soto accused Sibrian of allegedly mocking and humiliating her for her accent, immigration status and race and calling her stupid.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
State caseworkers have sent an untold number of elders in their care to a coterie of homes with a history of hurting, ignoring or humiliating their residents, records and anguished families say.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Building such strategic trust doesn’t require an elimination of differences or denying competition, Lam said.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
The reassurances by his spouse and his aides denying that the 81-year-old president was suffering from cognitive decline wouldn't be enough.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Anne Hathaway is refuting online speculation over whether she's had a facelift.—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
-
King’s break with Johnson was not about refuting his historic contributions.—
Mark Conway,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Then to Sydney Harbour, the very scene of that embarrassing capsize exactly a year earlier, and the Americans won the event outright for a first win since October 2023.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
That same disbelieving fullness.—
Vin Diesel,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
When Mom reached Dad on the telephone in the White House pantry to commiserate over the earth-shattering news, Dad’s response was disbelieving.—
John Wrory Ficklin,
Time,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Why are adults so comfortable publicly disgracing Black teenage girls going to their prom and being cruel toward strangers who are sometimes half their age?—
Essence,
Essence,
11 May 2026
-
The plotting becomes needlessly complicated at times, such as with Jack becoming a local hero after foiling a burglary, and later disgracing himself with a drunken tirade at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which leads to him being arrested and put on trial.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Those three are likely to be spread throughout Vegas’ lineup, potentially negating some of Carolina’s depth scoring and putting more of the onus back on Aho and his linemates.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Building on prior appellate rulings, the court of appeal held SCPMG did not have the burden of negating any possibility Doremus may have been engaged in work tasks at the time of the accident.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Liberals, who unfortunately make up the vast majority of sports media, will celebrate athletes endorsing/hanging out with Democrat politicians, while shaming those like Dart that dare to be conservative and Trump supporters.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Sometimes there can be a lot of shaming in religious settings.—
Louis Staples,
Glamour,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discrediting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discrediting. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
