DISCREDITING Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

discrediting

verb

present participle of discredit

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in denying

to think not to be true or real I discredit the story that the old inn is haunted

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as in refuting

to prove to be false the pseudoscience of phrenology has been thoroughly discredited

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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 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 At first the French suffered defeats, discrediting the Directory. —

Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discrediting

Verb

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
These clips often use humor and pop‑culture aesthetics—even LEGO‑style animations—to show Iran’s late supreme leader outsmarting and humiliating his American adversaries.

— Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026