definitions

discredit

[ dis-kred-it ]
/ dɪsˈkrɛd ɪt /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR discredit ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to injure the credit or reputation of; defame: an effort to discredit honest politicians.
to show to be undeserving of trust or belief; destroy confidence in: Later research discredited earlier theories.
to give no credence to; disbelieve: There was good reason to discredit the witness.

noun

loss or lack of belief or confidence; disbelief; distrust: His theories met with general discredit.
loss or lack of repute or esteem; disrepute.
something that damages a good reputation: This behavior will be a discredit to your good name.

RELATED CONTENT

CTERead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
Why Do Journalists Avoid The Word “Liar”?Politicians aren’t exactly known for being honest. Still, it is rare to see a headline declaring any president or politician a liar. Why is that?
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

discovery day, discovery inlet, discovery method, discovery procedure, discreate, discredit, discreditable, discreet, discrepancy, discrepant, discrete

Origin of discredit

First recorded in 1550–60; dis-1 + credit

Related forms

un·dis·cred·it·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for discredit

British Dictionary definitions for discredit

discredit

/ (dɪsˈkrɛdɪt) /

verb (tr)

to damage the reputation of
to cause to be disbelieved or distrusted
to reject as untrue or of questionable accuracy

noun

a person, thing, or state of affairs that causes disgrace
damage to a reputation
lack of belief or confidence
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