disgrace Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a state of dishonor
    shame; ignominy.
    • one mistake brought shame to all his family
    • suffered the ignominy of being sent to prison
  2. verb bring shame or dishonor upon
    dishonour; dishonor; attaint; shame.
    • he dishonored his family by committing a serious crime
  3. verb reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
    take down; demean; degrade; put down.
    • She tends to put down younger women colleagues
    • His critics took him down after the lecture
  4. verb damage the reputation of
    discredit.
    • This newspaper story discredits the politicians

WordNet


Dis*grace" noun
Etymology
F. disgrâce; pref. dis- (L. dis-) + grâce. See Grace.
Definitions
  1. The condition of being out of favor; loss of favor, regard, or respect.
    Macduff lives in disgrace. Shak.
  2. The state of being dishonored, or covered with shame; dishonor; shame; ignominy.
    To tumble down thy husband and thyself From top of honor to disgrace's feet? Shak.
  3. That which brings dishonor; cause of shame or reproach; great discredit; as, vice is a disgrace to a rational being.
  4. An act of unkindness; a disfavor. Obs.
    The interchange continually of favors and disgraces. Bacon.
    Syn. -- Disfavor; disesteem; opprobrium; reproach; discredit; disparagement; dishonor; shame; infamy; ignominy; humiliation.
Dis*grace" transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. disgracier. See Disgrace, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Disgraced ; present participle & verbal noun Disgracing
Definitions
  1. To put out favor; to dismiss with dishonor.
    Flatterers of the disgraced minister. Macaulay.
    Pitt had been disgraced and the old Duke of Newcastle dismissed. J. Morley.
  2. To do disfavor to; to bring reproach or shame upon; to dishonor; to treat or cover with ignominy; to lower in estimation.
    Shall heap with honors him they now disgrace. Pope.
    His ignorance disgraced him. Johnson.
  3. To treat discourteously; to upbraid; to revile.
    The goddess wroth gan foully her disgrace. Spenser.
    Syn. -- To degrade; humble; humiliate; abase; disparage; defame; dishonor; debase.

Webster 1913