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
For some families, failing to provide an elaborate wedding can lead to dishonor or even death. Ira Trivedi, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2015 In any event, there is no need to resolve this question of whether Dobbs belongs on the same roll of dishonor as Trump or Bruen today. Ian Millhiser, Vox, 15 Aug. 2024
Verb
Yifei Liu's Mulan weighs dishonoring her family vs. saving her father (Tzi Ma) and defending the country from invaders, and the tale is an eye-popping fantasy adventure about embracing one's self. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025 Joker: Folie à Deux, Madame Web and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis were among the top films dishonored by the Golden Raspberry Awards in its 45th Razzies announcement on Friday. Tim Lammers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dishonor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dishonor
Noun
  • There was no disgrace in getting blown out in the second half by the Cavaliers.
    Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Making such statements in a U.N. capacity is a disgrace and goes against everything the United Nations stand for.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But desserts like it, ones that use gelatin and pudding mixes, were at their peak of popularity in the mid-20th century, several years before the Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon.
    Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Holtz joined Northwestern in the fall of 2023 as an assistant to interim head coach David Braun after Pat Fitzgerald’s firing over a hazing scandal.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Coffman felt humiliated and betrayed.
    Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Swerve Strickland publicly humiliated Ricochet, sparking a heated rivalry.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Doing nothing is no longer an option for schools, teen says Around the country, as cases like Mani's continue to pop up, experts expect that shame prevents most victims from coming forward to flag abuses, suspecting that the problem is much more widespread than media reports suggest.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Moreover, the term body count itself carries a strong undercurrent of shame, particularly toward women.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • His tariffs were not based on the import taxes charged by other countries but by the size of each trade deficit, a calculation that instantly discredited the policy with many economists and investors.
    Time, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Bolsonaro’s efforts to discredit the election had already found allies abroad.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Mariah Carey just pulled a classic mom move by embarrassing her teenage son in front of his friends.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The leaking was intended to embarrass Bork, whose nomination was ultimately rejected by the U.S. Senate albeit for reasons unrelated to his rental list.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dishonor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dishonor. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dishonor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!