disgrace 1 of 2

noun

Definition of disgracenext
1
as in shame
the state of having lost the esteem of others the players who threw the game were in disgrace with their schoolmates

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in scandal
a cause of shame the exposure of his criminal record was a huge disgrace for the councilman

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

disgrace

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈskrās How to pronounce disgrace (audio)
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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
The brazen and aggressive manhandling of Senator Padilla by the Trump administration is a sickening disgrace. —Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 Luca Zaia, the head of the surrounding Veneto region, calls the protests a disgrace. —Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 17 June 2025
Verb
Among the most high-profile were two Council races in which disgraced ex-congressman Anthony Weiner attempted a political comeback, while a former representative’s daughter eyed a political dynasty. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025 Those were words disgraced Pittsburgh financial advisor Marty Blazer lived by. —Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for disgrace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disgrace
  1. shame
  2. scandal
  3. pity
  4. humiliate
  5. discredit
  6. embarrass
Noun
  • That is a shame, as many website builders these days offer image editors.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 July 2025
  • The woman immediately puts her hands over her eyes in apparent shame and turns away, while the man quickly drops down to get out of the camera’s view.
    — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 17 July 2025
Definition of shame
Noun
  • Nashville's show was free of any scandals and the band handled the moment with class.
    — Melonee Hurt, The Tennessean, 25 July 2025
  • One of higher education’s unsung scandals is enrollment caps for the most remunerative majors, namely the most technical and scientific.
    — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of scandal
Noun
  • While less-friendly fellow robots don’t feel pity, remorse, or fear, buying agents don’t feel greed, FOMO, or brand loyalty.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • The Chinese god of the sun saw all of this from his perch in heaven and took great pity on Tung Yung.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
Definition of pity
Verb
  • Over 24 cycles, the show humiliated hundreds of young, naïve women (and, briefly, men) in the name of entertainment.
    — Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 9 July 2025
  • Soldatov said that along this path was the 2008 war in Georgia, which showed the Russian army would not be humiliated anymore.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Definition of humiliate
Verb
  • What used to be fringe denialism has evolved into a sophisticated, and increasingly profitable, campaign to discredit science, undermine regulation, and politicize sustainability.
    — Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • The Chinese Communist Party has waged a decades-long campaign to discredit the current Dalai Lama and erase his presence from Tibetan life, while tightening restrictions on religious and cultural practices.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 3 July 2025
Definition of discredit
Verb
  • Manager Luis Enrique's side then embarrassed Inter Miami 4-0 in the round of 16 and survived two late red cards vs. Bayern Munich to win that quarterfinal battle 2-0. PSG vs. Real Madrid Injury, Suspension, Lineup News: Both teams will be missing key pieces along their back lines today.
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
  • The Nuggets, like the current Rockies, were embarrassing themselves regularly before posting an 11-71 record.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 5 July 2025
Definition of embarrass

Browse Nearby Words

disgorging
disgrace
disgraced
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Cite this Entry

“Disgrace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disgrace. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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