Definition of 'discredit'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense discredits
, present participle discrediting
, past tense , past participle discredited
1. verb
...a secret unit within the company that had been set up to discredit its major rival.
He says his accusers are trying to discredit government foreign-aid policies.
He said such methods would discredit the party worldwide.
2. verb
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
verb transitive
1.
to reject as untrue; disbelieve
2.
their earlier lies discredit anything they may say
3.
to damage the credit or reputation of; disgrace
noun
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'
The Sun (2006)
Moscow officials are now scrambling to discredit the film.
Times, Sunday Times (2015) REBELS AND REDCOATS: The American Revolutionary War (2003) 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)That has been largely discredited for a decade but the question of why muscles get tired has remained unanswered.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)But surely that is now discredited?
Times, Sunday Times (2009) Times, Sunday Times (2008) Times, Sunday Times (2011) 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) 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.
THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)In fact, concerns about the fire hazard posed by mobile phones have been largely discredited in recent years.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)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) Times, Sunday Times (2015)His conviction was based on evidence, now discredited, that the fire was arson.
Times, Sunday Times (2014) Times, Sunday Times (2006)Isn't at least part of the reason for this that stupid, extreme ideas have been discredited and abandoned?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)Trends of 'discredit'
View usage over:
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.
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.
- 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
- Portuguese: desmerecer
- Spanish: desacreditar
Source
Definition of discredit from the
Collins English Dictionary
Cyber fraud
Why every generation is at risk
Read more
We take a look at the etymology behind the word 'election' in the run-up to the UK General Election in June
Language expert Ian Brookes looks at the word 'election' and its origins.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Comments