Discredit: meaning, definitions and examples

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discredit

 

[ dɪsˈkrɛdɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

in a professional setting

Harm the good reputation of someone or something.

Synonyms

belittle, dishonor, disparage, slander.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
discredit

Use this word when you want to talk about harming someone's reputation or making people doubt something.

  • The scandal could discredit the entire administration.
  • His testimony was meant to discredit the witness.
disparage

Use this word when you want to criticize someone or something in a way that shows you think they are of little worth.

  • Politicians often disparage their opponents during debates.
  • He did not miss a chance to disparage my proposal.
belittle

Use this word when you want to describe speaking about someone or something as if they are not important.

  • She tried to belittle his achievements.
  • Don't belittle her efforts; she worked really hard.
dishonor

Use this word in a serious or formal context when discussing causing someone to lose respect or have a bad reputation.

  • His actions brought dishonor on his family.
  • To dishonor an agreement can lead to loss of trust.
slander

Use this word in legal or formal contexts when referring to making false statements that damage someone's reputation.

  • The celebrity filed a lawsuit for slander against the tabloid.
  • Spreading slanderous rumors can be harmful.

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.
Context #2 | Verb

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?

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Word Description / Examples
discredit

Used when you want to damage someone's reputation or believability.

  • The reporter sought to discredit the politician by highlighting his past scandals.
  • The theory was discredited after new evidence emerged.
debunk

Appropriate when pointing out that something (e.g., a myth or idea) is not true or when exposing false information.

  • Scientists worked to debunk the myth that you can catch a cold from cold weather.
  • The documentary aims to debunk common misconceptions about diet and health.
refute

Relevant when proving something wrong or false, specifically an argument or claim, often with evidence or logic.

  • The scientist provided data to refute the claims made by his critics.
  • She refuted the allegations against her with a strong alibi.
invalidate

Used to make something (e.g., an argument, statement, or document) no longer valid or acceptable, often in a formal or legal sense.

  • The lawyer managed to invalidate the contract due to a technical error.
  • New evidence may invalidate the previous assumptions of the study.
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.

  • The constant criticism served to undermine his confidence.
  • Rumors were spread to undermine the CEO's authority.

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.