Discredit — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /(ˌ)dis-ˈkre-dət/ dis·cred·it

Meaning & Definition of Discredit

Discredit (verb)

  1. to refuse to accept as true or accurate, disbelieve
  2. to cause disbelief in the accuracy or authority of
  3. to deprive of good repute, disgrace

Discredit (noun)

  1. loss of credit or reputation
  2. lack or loss of belief or confidence, doubt

Discredit (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the state of having lost the esteem of others

    "to his everlasting discredit, the coach was found to have placed bets against his own team"

    similar: disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame
    related: scandal, contempt, despite, disdain, scorn, deprecation, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor, abasement, debasement, debasing, degradation, dust, humbling, humiliation, blot, brand, shadow, slur, smirch, spot, stain, stigma, taint
    opposite: esteem, honor, respect
    near: admiration, appreciation, estimation, regard, awe, fear, reverence, fame, glory, renown, repute

Discredit (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes

    "attempted to discredit her political opponents by deliberately spreading false rumors"

    similar: abase, chasten, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, disgrace, dishonor, foul, humble, humiliate, lower, shame, sink, smirch, take down
    related: abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, belittle, castigate, criticize, cry down, decry, depreciate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, ridicule, write off, bad-mouth, defame, defile, libel, malign, slander, affront, insult, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate
    opposite: aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt
    near: acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol, fete, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute, tout, acknowledge, recognize, highlight, play up, spotlight, dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, glorify, magnify, advance, boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift, idealize, romanticize

  2. to think not to be true or real

    "I discredit the story that the old inn is haunted"

    similar: disbelieve, negate
    related: deny, reject, repudiate, distrust, doubt, mistrust, suspect, debunk, disprove, refute, deride, pooh-pooh, scoff (at)
    opposite: accept, believe, credit, swallow
    near: trust

  3. to prove to be false

    "the pseudoscience of phrenology has been thoroughly discredited"

    similar: belie, confound, confute, debunk, disconfirm, disprove, falsify, rebut, refute, shoot down, give the lie to
    related: overthrow, overturn, challenge, contest, query, question, doubt, mistrust, debate, discuss, hash (over), moot, talk over
    opposite: confirm, establish, prove, validate, verify
    near: document, evidence, evince, record, show, support, witness, back (up), buttress, corroborate, substantiate, adduce, attest, authenticate, certify, identify, demonstrate, display, illustrate, manifest

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Discredit

The most common words with a similar meaning to Discredit:

disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame, abase, chasten, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, foul, humble, humiliate, lower, sink, smirch, take down, disbelieve, negate, belie, confound, confute, debunk, disconfirm, disprove, falsify, rebut, refute, shoot down, give the lie to

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Discredit

Words with the opposite meaning of Discredit:

esteem, honor, respect, aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt, accept, believe, credit, swallow, confirm, establish, prove, validate, verify

Related Words for Discredit

scandal, contempt, despite, disdain, scorn, deprecation, disapprobation, disapproval, disfavor, abasement, debasement, debasing, degradation, dust, humbling, humiliation, blot, brand, shadow, slur, spot, stain, stigma, taint, abash, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass

Near Antonyms of Discredit

admiration, appreciation, estimation, regard, awe, fear, reverence, fame, glory, renown, repute, acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol, fete, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout, acknowledge

Word Forms of Discredit

Inflections: discredited, discrediting, discredits

Origin & Etymology of Discredit

First known use: 1548

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Discredit

Frequently Asked Questions about Discredit

What does "Discredit" mean?

"Discredit" means to refuse to accept as true or accurate, disbelieve. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to refuse to accept as true or accurate, disbelieve. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Discredit"?

Other words for "Discredit" include disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy and odium. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Discredit" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Discredit"?

There are 122 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Discredit". Common alternatives include disesteem, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, obloquy, odium, opprobrium and reproach.

What is the opposite of "Discredit"?

Antonyms of "Discredit" include esteem, honor, respect, aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate and exalt. Near antonyms include admiration, appreciation, estimation and regard.

How do you use "Discredit" in a sentence?

Examples of "Discredit" in a sentence: "to his everlasting discredit, the coach was found to have placed bets against his own team"; "attempted to discredit her political opponents by deliberately spreading false rumors"; "I discredit the story that the old inn is haunted".

Is "Discredit" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Discredit" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Discredit" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Discredit" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Discredit"?

"Discredit" is pronounced /(ˌ)dis-ˈkre-dət/ and divided into syllables as dis·cred·it.