disreputable
Americanadjective
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not reputable; having a bad reputation.
a disreputable barroom.
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- Synonyms:
- shameful, louche, low, objectionable, unprincipled, ignoble, disgraceful
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shabby or shoddy; of poor quality or condition.
disreputable clothes.
adjective
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having or causing a lack of repute
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disordered in appearance
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of disreputable
Explanation
If a person or organization is disreputable, they have an image problem. They are — or at least appear to be — crooked, shady, or just plain bad news. See how the word reputation is partially hidden in disreputable? If a person is disreputable, they have a bad reputation for some reason. A student caught cheating will get a bad reputation with teachers and become disreputable. A politician caught in a scandal could become disreputable. If an airline crashes a plane, they will become disreputable. When someone or something is disreputable, people no longer trust them. Even if the reality is different, it's hard to shake off a disreputable image.
Vocabulary lists containing disreputable
Fever 1793
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The City of Ember
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The Haunting of Hill House
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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.
The committee found Cleverly had breached three areas of the council's code for members relating to equality, respect and consideration of others, and disreputable conduct.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026
A court will decide if that’s illegal, but it’s certainly disreputable.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
Bad advice does not always equate to disreputable used-car salespeople.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 14, 2025
How rosé wine is perceived and enjoyed today is, in a sense, a direct result of this long and ever so slightly disreputable history.
From Salon • Jul. 15, 2024
Bessie crossed the street to avoid the jumble of saloons and their disreputable clientele.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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.
