definitions

discredit

[ dis-kred-it ]
/ dɪsˈkrɛd ɪt /
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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.

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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, discreetly, discrepancy, discrepant

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