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

The moves drew outrage, with an umbrella organisation of the Jewish community groups labelling it "scandalous" and a "moral and civilisational disgrace for Croatia".

Read more on Barron's

Nicklaus alleged that the company’s statements “tended to subject Mr. Nicklaus to hatred, distrust, ridicule, contempt and disgrace, and injure him in his profession,” according to his defamation complaint.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The fact Gill took bribes "is of course an absolute and total disgrace," he said.

Read more on BBC

Their inclusion raised concerns about Summers’ relationship with the disgraced financier, as well as the nature of his relationship with a female former mentee whom Summers discussed in correspondence with Epstein.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Just days earlier, the documents that became public revealed his long-running correspondence with the disgraced financier.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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