dishonor 1 of 2

dishonor

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun dishonor differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dishonor are disgrace, disrepute, ignominy, and infamy. While all these words mean "the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach," 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 disgrace take the place of dishonor?

While the synonyms disgrace and dishonor are close in meaning, disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism.

sent home in disgrace

When would disrepute be a good substitute for dishonor?

The words disrepute and dishonor can be used in similar contexts, but 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 dishonor?

The meanings of ignominy and dishonor largely overlap; however, ignominy stresses humiliation.

the ignominy of being arrested

When can infamy be used instead of dishonor?

While in some cases nearly identical to dishonor, 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 dishonor
Noun
Macbeth’s themes of deceit and dishonor sit squarely within the director's filmography while also crafting one of the most atmospheric and affecting Shakespeare works to date. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2024 For some families, failing to provide an elaborate wedding can lead to dishonor or even death. Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2015
Verb
In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Lightfoot accused Trump of dishonoring Floyd’s memory after the president suggested those protesting his death should be shot. Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2025 The second believed the United States could attain comprehensive security through military-technological means and saw diplomacy as a quixotic or pusillanimous enterprise that dishonored and weakened the country. A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dishonor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonor
Noun
  • The Australian media called them a disgrace and embarrassment.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • Deemed dangerous to national security by MI5, Mosley and his wife spent three years interned in prison before moving abroad in disgrace.
    Rosemary Counter, Time, 25 June 2025
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
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
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
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
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

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Cite this Entry

“Dishonor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonor. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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