Discredit: meaning, definitions and examples
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discredit
[ dɪsˈkrɛdɪt ]
in a professional setting
Harm the good reputation of someone or something.
Synonyms
belittle, dishonor, disparage, slander.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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discredit |
Use this word when you want to talk about harming someone's reputation or making people doubt something.
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disparage |
Use this word when you want to criticize someone or something in a way that shows you think they are of little worth.
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belittle |
Use this word when you want to describe speaking about someone or something as if they are not important.
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dishonor |
Use this word in a serious or formal context when discussing causing someone to lose respect or have a bad reputation.
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slander |
Use this word in legal or formal contexts when referring to making false statements that damage someone's reputation.
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Examples of usage
- The article aimed to discredit his achievements in the field of science.
- The false accusations were intended to discredit the politician's credibility.
in a personal context
Cause (an idea or piece of evidence) to seem false or unreliable.
Synonyms
debunk, invalidate, refute, undermine.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
discredit |
Used when you want to damage someone's reputation or believability.
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debunk |
Appropriate when pointing out that something (e.g., a myth or idea) is not true or when exposing false information.
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refute |
Relevant when proving something wrong or false, specifically an argument or claim, often with evidence or logic.
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invalidate |
Used to make something (e.g., an argument, statement, or document) no longer valid or acceptable, often in a formal or legal sense.
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undermine |
Suitable when you want to weaken or damage something (e.g., someone's authority, credibility, or a foundation), often in a subtle manner. It can carry a negative connotation.
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Examples of usage
- The forged documents were used to discredit the validity of the contract.
- He tried to discredit her argument by pointing out inconsistencies in her reasoning.
Translations
Translations of the word "discredit" in other languages:
🇵🇹 desacreditar
🇮🇳 अपमानित करना
🇩🇪 diskreditieren
🇮🇩 mendiskreditkan
🇺🇦 дискредитувати
🇵🇱 dyskredytować
🇯🇵 信用を失わせる (shin'yō o usinawaseru)
🇫🇷 discréditer
🇪🇸 desacreditar
🇹🇷 itibarını sarsmak
🇰🇷 신용을 떨어뜨리다 (sinyongeul tteoreotteurida)
🇸🇦 تشويه السمعة
🇨🇿 diskreditovat
🇸🇰 diskreditovať
🇨🇳 使丧失信誉 (shǐ sàngshī xìnyù)
🇸🇮 diskreditirati
🇮🇸 afneita
🇰🇿 беделін түсіру
🇬🇪 დისკრედიტაცია (disk'redit'atsia)
🇦🇿 diskreditasiya etmək
🇲🇽 desacreditar
Etymology
The word 'discredit' originated from the Latin word 'discredere', which means 'to disbelieve'. It entered the English language in the late 16th century. Over time, 'discredit' has evolved to represent the act of damaging someone's reputation or casting doubt on the validity of something.
See also: accredit, credential, creditability, creditable, creditor, credits, creditworthy, discreditable, uncredited.
Word Frequency Rank
At position #12,686, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.
- ...
- 12683 anthropological
- 12684 fungal
- 12685 observational
- 12686 discredit
- 12687 cassette
- 12688 popped
- 12689 starter
- ...