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

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Word Frequency

discredit in British

(dɪsˈkrɛdɪt )

verb (transitive)

to damage the reputation of

to cause to be disbelieved or distrusted

to reject as untrue or of questionable accuracy

noun

a person, thing, or state of affairs that causes disgrace

damage to a reputation

lack of belief or confidence

Word Frequency

discredit in American

(dɪsˈkrɛdɪt )

verb transitive

to reject as untrue; disbelieve

to be a reason for disbelieving or distrusting; cast doubt on

their earlier lies discredit anything they may say

to damage the credit or reputation of; disgrace

noun

absence or loss of belief or trust; disbelief; doubt

damage to one's reputation; loss of respect or status; disgrace; dishonor

something that causes disgrace or loss of status

Example sentences containing 'discredit'

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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)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)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)