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)

disgraced, disgracing 

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

Other Word Forms

• disgracer noun
• predisgrace noun
• quasi-disgraced adjective
• self-disgrace noun
• self-disgraced adjective
• self-disgracing adjective
• undisgraced 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

During the two-hour news conference, nine female Epstein accusers detailed their experiences and abuse at the hands of the disgraced financier.

From BBC

Mr Brosnan's life took another turn when, through a love of indigenous music, he met disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris and later became his band's promoter.

From BBC

Confronting her audience, she scolded: "I'll tell you something about my good name / It's mine alone to disgrace / I don't cater to all these vipers dressed in empath's clothing."

From BBC

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk called the incident "a disgrace", and said anti-racism campaigns need to do more to eradicate it from the game.

From BBC

We have so many people living at or below the poverty line in housing projects that are so bad it’s a disgrace government allowed them to reach that state.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• besmirch 
• debase 
• defame 
• defile 
• degrade 
• discredit 
• dishonor 
• disparage 
• disrespect 
• humiliate 
• reproach 
• slander 
• stigmatize 
• sully 
• tarnish