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discredit

[dis-kred-it]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to injure the credit or reputation of; defame: an effort to discredit honest politicians.
  2. to show to be undeserving of trust or belief; destroy confidence in: Later research discredited earlier theories.
  3. to give no credence to; disbelieve: There was good reason to discredit the witness.
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noun
  1. loss or lack of belief or confidence; disbelief; distrust: His theories met with general discredit.
  2. loss or lack of repute or esteem; disrepute.
  3. something that damages a good reputation: This behavior will be a discredit to your good name.
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Origin of discredit

First recorded in 1550–60; dis-1 + credit
Related formsun·dis·cred·it·ed, adjective

Synonyms

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1. disparage, disgrace, tarnish, undermine.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

vilify, disgrace, smear, ruin, defame, slander, degrade, disprove, destroy, disparage, distrust, reject, shoot, slur, pooh-pooh, expose, dishonor, disesteem, explode, censure

Examples from the Web for discredit

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • There was only one of the gentlemen of Spain who never had anyunkindness to his discredit.

    The Trail Book

    Mary Austin

  • I regret to say now that what I have learnt about you is greatly to your discredit, terribly so.

    People of Position

    Stanley Portal Hyatt

  • It was a true confession; nothing to his own discredit was left out.

    Murder Point

    Coningsby Dawson

  • For what could be more convincing than the argument of Socrates, which has now fallen into discredit?

    Phaedo

    Plato

  • Some one has been pretty busy tellin' things to my discredit for some time.

    Fair Harbor

    Joseph Crosby Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for discredit

discredit

verb (tr)
  1. to damage the reputation of
  2. to cause to be disbelieved or distrusted
  3. to reject as untrue or of questionable accuracy
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noun
  1. a person, thing, or state of affairs that causes disgrace
  2. damage to a reputation
  3. lack of belief or confidence
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for discredit

v.

1550s, from dis- "opposite of" + credit. Related: Discredited; discrediting; discreditable; discreditably.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper