dishonor

[dis-on-er]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dishonor ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

lack or loss of honor; disgraceful or dishonest character or conduct.

disgrace; ignominy; shame: His arrest brought dishonor to his family.

an indignity; insult: to do someone a dishonor.

a cause of shame or disgrace: He is a dishonor to his family.

Commerce. failure or refusal of the drawee or intended acceptor of a bill of exchange or note to accept it or, if it is accepted, to pay and retire it.

verb (used with object)

to deprive of honor; disgrace; bring reproach or shame on.

Commerce. to fail or refuse to honor or pay (a draft, check, etc.).

to rape or seduce.

Also especially British, dis·hon·our.

Origin of dishonor

1250–1300; Middle English dishonour (noun), dishonouren (v.) < Anglo-French, Old French; see dis-¹, honor

Related formsdis·hon·or·er, nounun·dis·hon·ored, adjective

Synonym study

1, 2. See disgrace.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for dishonor

reproach, opprobrium, disgrace, sully, debase, discredit, defile, obloquy, odium, abasement, ignominy, discourtesy, infamy, slight, indignity, disesteem, degradation, blame, disfavor, disrepute

Examples from the Web for dishonor

Contemporary Examples of dishonor

THE DISHONOR OF HONOR KILLINGS Imagine a young woman killed by her own relatives for failing to obey.
Lone Star Leaders
October 24, 2014
The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.
Lincoln Was the Founders’ Heir Apparent
Harvey J. Kaye
October 22, 2014
We witnessed rape, dishonor and the destruction of families.
An Ex-Radical's Open Letter to ISIS Fighters: Quit Now While You Can!
Maajid Nawaz
September 10, 2014
I felt my death would spare my wife, daughter and myself the dishonor the rape brought upon us.
Retired Marine Reveals Secret Suffering of Male Military Rape Victims
Caitlin Dickson
February 27, 2014
Accusations of dishonor demonize and demoralize, making it difficult to compromise, and sapping the motivation to act nobly.
Delegitimizing Israel Makes Peace Harder to Achieve
Gil Troy
February 28, 2013

Historical Examples of dishonor

He does not look upon it as a sin, as carrying any dishonor; he may be cheated, but he cheats no man.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
In an indistinct way he felt the dishonor that was Alan Porter's being given to him.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
But his private character, like his public, knew no dishonor.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII)
John Greenleaf Whittier
I am alone—the past, nothing but remorse; the future, ruin and dishonor!'
Continental Monthly, Vol. III, No IV, April 1863
Various
In your 'Century of Dishonor' you showed to the country its own disgrace.
Hetty's Strange History
Helen Jackson

Word Origin and History for dishonor

mid-13c., from Old French deshonorer (12c.), from Late Latin dishonorare (reformed from classical Latin dehonestare), from dis- "opposite of" (see dis-) + honorare (see honor). Related: Dishonored; dishonoring.

c.1300, from Old French deshonor (12c.); see dishonor (v.).