disgrace
Americannoun
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the loss of respect, honor, or esteem; ignominy; shame.
the disgrace of criminals.
- Synonyms:
- taint, notoriety, disapprobation, disapproval
- Antonyms:
- honor
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a person, act, or thing that causes shame, reproach, or dishonor or is dishonorable or shameful.
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the state of being out of favor; exclusion from favor, confidence, or trust.
courtiers and ministers in disgrace.
noun
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a condition of shame, loss of reputation, or dishonour
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a shameful person, thing, or state of affairs
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exclusion from confidence or trust
he is in disgrace with his father
verb
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to bring shame upon; be a discredit to
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
How would you feel about getting a dream gig only to see it end in disgrace because of, well, you?
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
"I think all road users would agree that the condition of our local roads has become a national disgrace," said AIA chairman David Giles.
From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026
The Tribune had come in behind my essay with an editorial of its own, making similar points about the widespread disgrace of America’s youth sports system.
From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026
He called the ruling a disgrace, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
In their circle, it was held to be no disgrace to import goods illegally, but rather sharp practice was accounted a sign of canny business acumen.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
