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Definition of 'discredit'

Word Frequency

discredit

(dɪskredɪt )
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense discredits , present participle discrediting , past tense, past participle discredited
1. verb
To discredit someone or something means to cause them to lose people's respect or trust.
...a secret unit within the company that had been set up to discredit its major rival. [VERB noun]
He says his accusers are trying to discredit government foreign-aid policies. [VERB noun]
He said such methods would discredit the party worldwide. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: disgrace, blame, shame, smear   More Synonyms of discredit
discredited   adjective
The previous government is, by now, thoroughly discredited.
...the old, discredited regimes.
Synonyms: rejected, exposed, exploded, discarded   More Synonyms of discredit
2. verb
To discredit an idea or evidence means to make it appear false or not certain.
They realized there would be difficulties in discrediting the evidence. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: dispute, question, challenge, deny   More Synonyms of discredit
More Synonyms of discredit
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'discredit'

Word Frequency

discredit in British

(dɪsˈkrɛdɪt )
verb (transitive)
1. 
to damage the reputation of
2. 
to cause to be disbelieved or distrusted
3. 
to reject as untrue or of questionable accuracy
noun
4. 
a person, thing, or state of affairs that causes disgrace
5. 
damage to a reputation
6. 
lack of belief or confidence
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

discredit in American

(dɪsˈkrɛdɪt ; diskredˈit)
verb transitive
1. 
to reject as untrue; disbelieve
2. 
to be a reason for disbelieving or distrusting; cast doubt on
their earlier lies discredit anything they may say
3. 
to damage the credit or reputation of; disgrace
noun
4. 
absence or loss of belief or trust; disbelief; doubt
5. 
damage to one's reputation; loss of respect or status; disgrace; dishonor
6. 
something that causes disgrace or loss of status
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Example sentences containing 'discredit'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
The idea that fracking could be a transition fuel is now widely discredited. Times, Sunday Times (2017)Prezza is now an utterly discredited shell of a politician. The Sun (2006)Moscow officials are now scrambling to discredit the film. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Washington did not neglect the opportunity to discredit another potential rival. Hugh Bicheno REBELS AND REDCOATS: The American Revolutionary War (2003)It seems more like oligarchs looking to discredit their rivals perhaps. Times, Sunday Times (2016)One reason may be that this form of cover is confused with widely discredited payment protection insurance. Times, Sunday Times (2015)But surely that is now discredited? Times, Sunday Times (2009)That's surely as discredited now as a bouncing cheque. Times, Sunday Times (2008) Now discredited owing to regulators' reluctance to consider extreme enough outcomes. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Just look at the lack of quality artists for the now discredited Turner prize. Times, Sunday Times (2016)He commented approvingly on a British government dossier on the matter that is now widely discredited. Times, Sunday Times (2007)About 30 per cent of the work was to discredit rivals. Times, Sunday Times (2011)This jab became unpopular some years back after some bad publicity, now totally discredited. The Sun (2015)Sadly, this system is totally discredited. The Sun (2015)Government in these countries has not only been totally discredited; it has become totally impotent. Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)Since then it has persisted in residual form as an idea, discredited for some and regarded with nostalgia by others. The Times Literary Supplement (2010)It is now universally discredited. Times, Sunday Times (2009)If they do, it will be very much to the discredit of the Government. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The American is now discredited, but the shadow of doping still hangs over his sport. Times, Sunday Times (2015)His conviction was based on evidence, now discredited, that the fire was arson. Times, Sunday Times (2014)If planning is so inefficient, and discredited in economic theory, why does it persist? Times, Sunday Times (2006)

Trends of 'discredit'

In Common Usage. discredit is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'discredit'

British English: discredit VERB
To discredit someone or something means to cause them to lose people's respect or trust.
...a secret unit within the company that had been set up to discredit its major rival.
  • American English: discredit
  • Brazilian Portuguese: desmerecer
  • Chinese: 使…丧失信誉
  • European Spanish: desacreditar
  • French: discréditer
  • German: in Misskredit bringen
  • Italian: screditare
  • Japanese: 信用を傷つける
  • Korean: 실추시키다
  • European Portuguese: desmerecer
  • Spanish: desacreditar

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Nearby words of 'discredit'

  • discovery
  • Discovery Bay
  • Discovery Day
  • discredit
  • discreditable
  • discredited
  • discreet

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'D'

Source

Definition of discredit from the Collins English Dictionary

Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used: person singular plural 1st 2nd 3rd masculine 3rd feminine 3rd neuter General myself yourself himself herself itself oneself ourselves yourselves themselves th...
Read more about 'Reflexive pronouns'
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Scrabble score for 'discredit': 13
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