disserve

[ dis-surv ]

verb (used with object)

, dis·served, dis·serv·ing.

1. to be a disservice to; serve harmfully or injuriously.

disserve

/ dɪsˈsɜːv /

verb

1. archaic.
   tr to do a disservice to

Other Words From

• self-dis·serving adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disserve¹

First recorded in 1610–20; dis- ¹ + serve

Example Sentences

Another change would “cause substantial disruption and disserve the public interest,” the administration said.

From Seattle Times

Another change would “cause substantial disruption and disserve the public interest,” the administration said.

From Seattle Times

In his opinion, Judge O’Connor, appointed in 2007 by President George W. Bush, said the plaintiffs satisfied the law’s requirements for a preliminary injunction — the case is likely to succeed on the merits, has demonstrated a substantial threat of irreparable harm, has shown the “balance of hardships” is in their favor, and an injunction “will not disserve the public interest.”

From Washington Times

"On a variety of levels, unregulated corporate electioneering might diminish the ability of citizens to 'hold officials accountable to the people,' and disserve the goal of a public debate that is 'uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.'"

From Salon

Dr. Bibbins-Domingo saw another downside in this method: “With everyone out there lying about being immunocompromised, lying about their status, this will just wreak havoc with the data. We want public health decisions to be based on good data. It is a disserve to treat medicine like a restaurant where we go in and order from a menu.”

From New York Times