disserve
Definition
Verb (transitive): To treat someone or something badly; to harm, injure, or do a disservice to. It is the opposite of "serve," meaning to act against someone’s interests or wellbeing.
Usage Examples
- (His words harmed the team.)
- (The article injured the public’s trust.)
- (You harm your own growth.)
Advanced Usage
- "to disserve one’s cause": to act in a way that undermines or damages one’s own purpose or mission.
- By ignoring the evidence, the lawyer disserved his client’s cause. (He harmed his client’s legal position.)
Variants and Related Words
- Disservice (noun): an action that causes harm or inconvenience.
- You did him a disservice by not telling the truth. (You harmed him by withholding the truth.)
- Disserved (past tense): (He damaged his reputation.)
Synonyms
- Harm: to cause physical or emotional injury.
- Injure: to damage or hurt.
- Damage: to impair the value or quality of something.
- Betray: to act against someone’s trust or interests.
Related Idioms
- "To do a disservice to": to harm or fail to help properly.
- His lazy attitude did a disservice to the entire project. (His attitude harmed the project.)
- "To play someone false": to deceive or betray someone (archaic, similar in meaning).
- She played him false by spreading rumors. (She harmed him by betraying his trust.)