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

In a rare interview, St Catherine's longtime Archbishop Damianos told a Greek newspaper the decision was a "grave blow for us... and a disgrace".

From BBC

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

Related Words

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