discredit
/dis'kredit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- Loss or lack of reputation or respect; disgrace: The state of being held in low esteem or having a bad reputation.
- Doubt or disbelief: A state of being doubted or not believed.
Verb:
- To harm the good reputation of someone or something: To cause people to stop respecting or trusting a person, group, or idea.
- To refuse to believe; to cast doubt on: To cause something to be thought of as untrue or unreliable.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The corruption scandal brought discredit upon the entire administration.
- His lies cast discredit on his testimony.
Verb:
- The journalist tried to discredit her opponent with false accusations.
- New evidence has discredited the old theory.
Advanced Usage
To bring discredit on/upon someone/something: To be the cause of someone or something losing respect.
- His behavior brought discredit on the family name.
To fall into discredit: To lose respect or trust over time.
- That theory has fallen into discredit among modern scientists.
Variants and Related Words
- Discreditable (adj): Deserving blame or damaging to one's reputation.
- His actions were deemed discreditable.
- Discredited (adj): No longer believed or respected.
- He is now a discredited figure.
Synonyms
- Noun: Disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, shame, ignominy.
- Verb: Defame, disgrace, dishonor, smear, tarnish, debunk, refute.
Antonyms
- Noun: Credit, honor, esteem, repute.
- Verb: Credit, honor, praise, prove, validate.
Related Phrases
- To be a discredit to someone/something: To be a source of shame or loss of respect for someone or something.
- He is a discredit to his profession.
Noun
- the state of being held in low esteem
- your actions will bring discredit to your name
- because of the scandal the school has fallen into disrepute
Verb
- reject as false; refuse to accept
- damage the reputation of
- This newspaper story discredits the politicians
- cause to be distrusted or disbelieved
- The paper discredited the politician with its nasty commentary