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 would be a shame, particularly given the importance previous United managers have placed on promoting the club’s own.
    — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The shame and fear and disgust that welled up inside me, the bullish resistance that struggled to quell it because this man would never hurt me, this man was never wrong.
    — Meg Pillow July 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 2025
Definition of shame
Noun
  • 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
  • Nashville's show was free of any scandals and the band handled the moment with class.
    — Melonee Hurt, The Tennessean, 25 July 2025
Definition of scandal
Noun
  • According to reporting from the Clermont Sun, Fike tweeted ‘#thug the new n word’ in April 2015 and ‘Thug life = thug treatment = no pity from me’ in July 2019.
    — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2025
  • It’s supposed to be a reflection of someone really spiraling down into their self-perpetuating pity thoughts.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 June 2025
Definition of pity
Verb
  • Coach Ruben Amorim publicly humiliated him before a loan move to Aston Villa for the final half of the campaign.
    — Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
  • Caught in an undignified situation, humiliated by a hot, skinnier love interest, Jessica was the latest incarnation of the funny fat lady (who is never actually that fat, merely representative of the average American woman).
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 16 July 2025
Definition of humiliate
Verb
  • This is mainly an effort to discredit and demonize property taxes, which DeSantis wants to abolish or severely curtail in Florida.
    — Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2025
  • Trump’s theory here, juiced by Gabbard, is that Obama used talk of Russian election interference to discredit Trump’s 2016 election win and hobble his first term in office.
    — Chris Brennan, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Definition of discredit
Verb
  • Look, the Yankees didn’t embarrass themselves in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Monday night.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 29 July 2025
  • In the aftermath, the mother was angry for a week, accusing him of undermining her authority and embarrassing her in front of their social circle.
    — Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
Definition of embarrass

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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 6 Aug. 2025.

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