DISHONOR Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'dishonor' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dishonor are disgrace , disrepute , ignominy , and infamy . While all these words mean "the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach," dishonor emphasizes the loss of honor that one has enjoyed or the loss of self-esteem. // preferred death to life with dishonor

Q: In what contexts can 'disgrace' take the place of 'dishonor'?

While the synonyms disgrace and dishonor are close in meaning, disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism. // sent home in disgrace

Q: When would 'disrepute' be a good substitute for 'dishonor'?

The words disrepute and dishonor can be used in similar contexts, but disrepute stresses loss of one's good name or the acquiring of a bad reputation. // a once proud name fallen into disrepute

Q: Where would 'ignominy' be a reasonable alternative to 'dishonor'?

The meanings of ignominy and dishonor largely overlap; however, ignominy stresses humiliation. // the ignominy of being arrested

Q: When can 'infamy' be used instead of 'dishonor'?

While in some cases nearly identical to dishonor , infamy usually implies notoriety as well as exceeding shame. // a day that lives in infamy

dishonor 1 of 2

noun

(ˌ)dis-ˈä-nər

Definition of dishonor

as in disgrace

the state of having lost the esteem of others a person of integrity who would prefer death to dishonor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scandal

a cause of shame your expulsion from the military academy for cheating is a dishonor to this family

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dishonor

2 of 2

verb

as in to humiliate

to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes dishonored herself by fixing the results of her medical research

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How does the noun dishonor differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dishonor are disgrace, disrepute, ignominy, and infamy. While all these words mean "the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach," dishonor emphasizes the loss of honor that one has enjoyed or the loss of self-esteem.

preferred death to life with dishonor

In what contexts can disgrace take the place of dishonor?

While the synonyms disgrace and dishonor are close in meaning, disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism.

sent home in disgrace

When would disrepute be a good substitute for dishonor?

The words disrepute and dishonor can be used in similar contexts, but disrepute stresses loss of one's good name or the acquiring of a bad reputation.

a once proud name fallen into disrepute

Where would ignominy be a reasonable alternative to dishonor?

The meanings of ignominy and dishonor largely overlap; however, ignominy stresses humiliation.

the ignominy of being arrested

When can infamy be used instead of dishonor?

While in some cases nearly identical to dishonor, infamy usually implies notoriety as well as exceeding shame.

a day that lives in infamy

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 dishonor

Noun

Intimidation, fear, and dishonor are the driving forces behind enforcing omertà; violation of the code is inevitably punishable by death. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 May 2026 When a partner transforms fundamentally, obligations may lapse without dishonor. — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026

Verb

Ella Baker, Septima Clark, these are extraordinary women who today the Supreme Court has dishonored their legacy and their sacrifices. — NBC news, 10 May 2026 The money’s all being made by people close to Jackson who want to tell a distorted narrative that really dishonors them. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dishonor

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonor

Noun

The shop was quickly bombarded on Google with one-star reviews with people describing the shop and its inventory as terrible, stupid, shameful, awful and a disgrace.

— Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026
And now, a decade and a half after his downfall and disgrace, Galliano is set to be the focus of a major exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

— Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of disgrace

Noun

The current system was adopted by voters in 1958 following a notorious political scandal that saw a sitting governor conspire with the chief justice and his lieutenant governor to be appointed to the court after losing re-election.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Two of the involved officers later sued Torres-Walker for alleged defamation over Facebook posts calling them racists, though both cops were later charged with bribery and implicated in the city’s police racist texting scandal.

— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of scandal

Verb

Filming a scene in which Isaiah humiliates Cam, Withers asked Wayans to crack jokes about Kionte’s death — the defining event of Withers’ life, and his lowest point.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
The moment is a deliberate callback to the premiere, when Max seized a microphone at a fundraiser and humiliated Anna in public.

— JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026

Definition of humiliate

Noun

Portugal are stacked with world-class talent in midfield, and there is no shame in losing out on a spot to Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Joao Neves or Bruno Fernandes.

— Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
The idea with the channels seems to be that making the secret, private shame of scrolling into a collaborative activity will give it a new place in the home.

— Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of shame

Verb

By contrast, the defense will point to the parts of the book that are provably false, in an attempt to discredit it, explained David Roger, the former Clark County, Nevada, district attorney.

— Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 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

Definition of discredit

Verb

The operation has brought a fuel crisis that is embarrassing the Kremlin more than four years after Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Russia seeks to subjugate Ukraine and embarrass Europe in its own backyard, while China seeks dominance in East Asia - but their approaches are quite different.

— Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of embarrass

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“Dishonor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonor. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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