disgrace

American  

[dis-greys] / dɪsˈgreɪs /

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

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to bring shame upon; be a discredit to

2. to treat or cause to be treated with disfavour

Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• disgracer noun
• predisgrace noun
• quasi-disgraced adjective
• self-disgrace noun
• self-disgraced adjective
• self-disgracing adjective
• undisgraced adjective

Etymology

Origin of disgrace

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

Example Sentences

But even in recent years, with their father's disgrace hanging over them, they have continued to attend, and be part of, royal occasions.

From BBC

Mr. Brown, who appointed Mr. Mandelson to the House of Lords, is disgraced by association.

From The Wall Street Journal

When Lord Mandelson tells Epstein he is out of government in May 2010, and is at Labour Party headquarters for a "farewell" event for Gordon Brown, the disgraced financier offers a "big hug".

From BBC

Email exchanges published in the US indicate Lord Mandelson was in close contact with the disgraced late financier during a period in which he was at the heart of government amid the financial crisis.

From BBC

She is sitting next to Epstein and a second woman, who is also redacted in the photo and is sitting at the far end of the couch next to the disgraced financier.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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