disgrace

[ dis-greys ]

noun

1. the loss of respect, honor, or esteem; ignominy; shame:

   the disgrace of criminals.

   Synonyms: taint, notoriety, disapprobation, disapproval

   Antonyms: honor

2. a person, act, or thing that causes shame, reproach, or dishonor or is dishonorable or shameful.
3. the state of being out of favor; exclusion from favor, confidence, or trust:

   courtiers and ministers in disgrace.

   Synonyms: obloquy, odium, disfavor

verb (used with object)

, dis·graced, dis·grac·ing.

1. to bring or reflect shame or reproach upon:

   to be disgraced by cowardice.

   Synonyms: taint, sully, stain, defame, dishonor

2. to dismiss with discredit; put out of grace or favor; rebuke or humiliate:

   to be disgraced at court.

   Synonyms: disapprove, degrade

disgrace

/ dɪsˈɡreɪs /

noun

1. a condition of shame, loss of reputation, or dishonour
2. a shameful person, thing, or state of affairs
3. exclusion from confidence or trust

   he is in disgrace with his father

verb

1. to bring shame upon; be a discredit to
2. to treat or cause to be treated with disfavour

Derived Forms

• disˈgracer, noun

Other Words From

• dis·gracer noun
• predis·grace noun
• quasi-dis·graced adjective
• self-dis·grace noun
• self-dis·graced adjective
• self-dis·gracing adjective
• undis·graced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disgrace¹

1540–50; (noun) < Middle French < Italian disgrazia, equivalent to dis- dis- ¹ + grazia < Latin gratia ( grace ); (v.) < Middle French disgracier < Italian disgraziare, derivative of disgrazia

Synonym Study

Disgrace, dishonor, ignominy, infamy imply a very low position in the opinion of others. Disgrace implies the disfavor of others: to be in disgrace. Dishonor implies a stain on honor or honorable reputation; it relates especially to the person's own conduct: He preferred death to dishonor. Ignominy is disgrace in which one's situation invites contempt: the ignominy of being discovered cheating. Infamy is shameful notoriety, or baseness of action or character that is widely known and recognized: The children never outlived the father's infamy.

Example Sentences

She followed up in the debate with hard shots at Trump’s credentials as a patriot and a protector, saying that Putin would eat his lunch and military leaders said Trump was a disgrace.

From Salon

"This Russian veto is a disgrace and it shows to the world yet again Russia’s true colours," Lammy told the meeting in New York.

From BBC

The daughter of a disgraced house, Valya isn’t content to accept her family’s banishment to a life peddling whale fur and blubber.

From Salon

“The recent pardons he’s given don’t make up for these abuses, and it’s a disgrace that he has been granted this award while many still remain wrongfully detained,” she said.

From BBC

Among those Manson and his followers were convicted of killing was actress Sharon Tate, the wife of disgraced director Roman Polanski.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contempt
• degradation
• dishonor
• disrespect
• humiliation
• ignominy
• opprobrium
• reproach
• scorn
• stigma