disgrace 1 of 2

1
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

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
This is a terrible disgrace to the legacy of the great Nelson Mandela. Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 21 May 2025 It’s been a long time since Florida’s university system was put to such disgrace as the Board of Governors did Tuesday in rejecting the distinguished scholar Santa Ono as the lone finalist for president of the University of Florida. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025
Verb
King Charles and Queen Camilla have attended the traditional Easter Sunday church service at Windsor Castle, just outside London – with no sign of Prince William or Kate Middleton, but disgraced Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson joining the royal party. Caroline Frost, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2025 The allegations echoed the earlier influence-peddling scandal surrounding disgraced former President Park Geun-hye, which led to nationwide protests in 2017 and the impeachment of South Korea’s first female President. Charlie Campbell, Time, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disgrace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disgrace
Noun
  • Which is a shame, because there are alternatives to demolition, including one on display just a few blocks away.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025
  • Their cruelty is wielded without shame or restraint.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Advertisement Rutte has also been dogged by scandal.
    Adam Rasmi, Time, 20 June 2025
  • Though Fat Joe hobnobbed with some of the biggest names in politics, including then-Vice President Kamala Harris, there was at least one brush with scandal back in 2010.
    Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • This momentary pause, this saving interruption of the headlong, breathless trajectory of rape or murder, admitted a kind of compassion, pity, even tenderness, halting injustice in its tracks.
    Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • So far, the Ioniq 9 cannot brew a Starbucks coffee at your command, which is a pity, but one never knows what the future brings.
    Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Miller sought to shield these women, her suit said, and as a result she was humiliated, harassed and ultimately forced out of her job by Spitzer and Nelson.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 20 June 2025
  • As Howard begins to humiliate Matt, the camera follows all angles of the table, making sure to showcase everyone’s reactions.
    Leia Mendoza, Variety, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Terrible policy Perhaps Gabbard is sounding the alarm to discredit efforts — including a sanctions bill held up in Congress pending a green light from Trump — to pressure Putin into a meaningful negotiation on ending his war.
    Marc Champion, Mercury News, 13 June 2025
  • The irony is that the FTC is blind to the meaning of such substantial investment from Amazon, the very investment that thoroughly discredits the FTC’s case.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • And best of all, no one could possibly be embarrassed by these empathetic words.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
  • Mavericks 4-2 over Heat (2011): Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs absolutely embarrassed the Heatles.
    Zach Harper, New York Times, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disgrace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disgrace. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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