DISCREDIT Synonyms: 213 Similar and Opposite Words

discredit 1 of 2

noun

Definition of discredit

as in disgrace

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

discredit

2 of 2

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈkre-dət

as in to humiliate

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deny

to think not to be true or real I discredit the story that the old inn is haunted

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to refute

to prove to be false the pseudoscience of phrenology has been thoroughly discredited

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of discredit

Noun

Phillips also found sufficient evidence to determine that Weaver violated policy by making remarks to the officer and the Heritage Creek police chief that brought discredit upon him as a member of LMPD. — Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Nov. 2025 Messaging must make distinctions, but also avoid getting lost in parenthetic abstractions or potentially easier-to-discredit targets. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025

Verb

Gates says Washburn’s petition is a first volley in an attempt to discredit and then defund the Wildlife Council. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026 Instead of discrediting infringement arguments, this year generative AI company Bria launched Fibo, a tool that pays artist royalties to the creators of the original references. — Rae Witte, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discredit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discredit

Noun

Beneath the spy plots, then, is a fond portrait of a group of people held in perpetual disgrace for their shortcomings, and thus forced to find individual paths to redemption.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
But Scott was mercifully lifted for Evan Phillips, who recorded the final out of the game to save the Dodgers from disgrace.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of disgrace

Verb

The brothers, through their spokesmen, denied the allegations.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
The two sides have clashed mightily over data centers, which are broadly unpopular with the public and which the No campaign says could make a bid for the streamlined permitting process, something the Yes side strenuously denies.

— Andrew Graham October 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of deny

Verb

Ramaswamy has also refuted allegations his fortune came from misleading investors.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Others describe the studies necessary to replicate, refute or refine these advances and ensure the necessary scientific rigor to successfully discover and develop new drugs.

— Fred D. Ledley, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of refute

Noun

She is obsessed with her closet, the organization of which puts even Kim to shame.

— Jonathan Van Meter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
In a May 2023 Instagram post, Allen apologized to Gale for having an affair and acknowledged that his choices brought shame and humiliation to his family.

— Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of shame

Verb

Oddly, some on social media are acting like Nevada’s entire goal was to embarrass others during his weekend game.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
The actor may not always be playing Bond, but will forever be a Bond, and therefore must be counted upon to not embarrass the franchise.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of embarrass

Verb

Held to a season-low 209 yards of offense, Minnesota (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) also got a third-quarter rushing touchdown from Darius Taylor after an offsides penalty on Iowa negated a fourth-down stop one play earlier.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
The play initially was negated by a targeting penalty on Brice Pollock, but then it was overturned by video review and the Bearcats’ lead was cut to 24-15 after the 2-point attempt failed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of negate

Browse Nearby Words

discovery

discredit

discreditable

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Discredit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discredit. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of discredit

noun

verb

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