DISGRACE Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'disgrace' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disgrace are dishonor , disrepute , ignominy , and infamy . While all these words mean "the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach," disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism. // sent home in disgrace

Q: When could 'dishonor' be used to replace 'disgrace'?

While in some cases nearly identical to disgrace , dishonor emphasizes the loss of honor that one has enjoyed or the loss of self-esteem. // preferred death to life with dishonor

Q: In what contexts can 'disrepute' take the place of 'disgrace'?

In some situations, the words disrepute and disgrace are roughly equivalent. However, disrepute stresses loss of one's good name or the acquiring of a bad reputation. // a once proud name fallen into disrepute

Q: Where would 'ignominy' be a reasonable alternative to 'disgrace'?

The synonyms ignominy and disgrace are sometimes interchangeable, but ignominy stresses humiliation. // the ignominy of being arrested

Q: When is 'infamy' a more appropriate choice than 'disgrace'?

The words infamy and disgrace can be used in similar contexts, but infamy usually implies notoriety as well as exceeding shame. // a day that lives in infamy

disgrace 1 of 2

noun

Definition of disgrace

as in shame

the state of having lost the esteem of others the players who threw the game were in disgrace with their schoolmates

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scandal

a cause of shame the exposure of his criminal record was a huge disgrace for the councilman

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as in pity

a regrettable or blameworthy act it's a disgrace to let all the leftover food from the banquet go to waste, so let's deliver it to the homeless shelter

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disgrace

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈskrās

as in to humiliate

to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes disgraced by the shameful actions of their leader

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How does the noun disgrace differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disgrace are dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, and infamy. While all these words mean "the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach," disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism.

sent home in disgrace

When could dishonor be used to replace disgrace?

While in some cases nearly identical to disgrace, dishonor emphasizes the loss of honor that one has enjoyed or the loss of self-esteem.

preferred death to life with dishonor

In what contexts can disrepute take the place of disgrace?

In some situations, the words disrepute and disgrace are roughly equivalent. However, disrepute stresses loss of one's good name or the acquiring of a bad reputation.

a once proud name fallen into disrepute

Where would ignominy be a reasonable alternative to disgrace?

The synonyms ignominy and disgrace are sometimes interchangeable, but ignominy stresses humiliation.

the ignominy of being arrested

When is infamy a more appropriate choice than disgrace?

The words infamy and disgrace can be used in similar contexts, but infamy usually implies notoriety as well as exceeding shame.

a day that lives in infamy

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 disgrace

Noun

Scandal and disgrace In 1978, host Argentina was on a brink of elimination. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026 Voicemails provided in response to a request from the Star-Telegram ranged from callers saying Doolan was anti-American, a disgrace to Wylie, and not smart enough to teach children. — Maven Navarro june 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026

Verb

In recent years, Bilton produced documentaries about business and technology for Netflix and HBO, including a film about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. — Adam Reiss, NBC news, 28 May 2026 Federal regulators are investigating disgraced former Congressman George Santos for possible insider trading on the prediction market Kalshi, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. — Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for disgrace

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disgrace

Noun

With wonder and with great shame the yodel is an orphaned sound, a sound that turns the serenade toward an addressee that is destined to never hear it.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Altitude is going to be a leveller, just a shame there are no West Bromwich Albion players in the England squad.

— Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of shame

Noun

Plagued by criticism and scandal, it was eventually dissolved by Congress and replaced by a new commission that decided to mostly fund community celebrations.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Then, the nation was recovering from the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.

— Saige Miller, NPR, 1 July 2026

Definition of scandal

Noun

And that’s a pity, because birthright citizenship brings many practical benefits to the United States today—arguments that the nation needs to hear, given the campaign being mounted against it.

— Amanda Frost, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
That is truly a pity because this brilliant thinker revolutionized both mathematics and physics.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 June 2026

Definition of pity

Verb

Israel must leave humiliated and defeated — and that is exactly what will happen.

— Mark Osborne, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026

Definition of humiliate

Verb

Kiryl Pazniak, 49, who hosted a popular political show on YouTube, has been convicted on the charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist organization, the group said — accusations widely used by authorities to stifle critical voices.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

The Chicago White Sox, a team many left for dead at the start of the year, embarrassed the Kansas City Royals Friday night, 22-1.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
But combined with Disney‘s embarrassing The Mandalorian and Grogu influencer stunt that backfired, a movie’s first reactions on social media are increasingly being met with equal amounts of fan skepticism.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026

Definition of embarrass

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disgorging

disgrace

disgraced

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“Disgrace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disgrace. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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verb

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