DISGRACE Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

disgrace 1 of 2

noun

Definition of disgrace

as in shame

the state of having lost the esteem of others the players who threw the game were in disgrace with their schoolmates

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in scandal

a cause of shame the exposure of his criminal record was a huge disgrace for the councilman

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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

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disgrace

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈskrās

as in to humiliate

to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes disgraced by the shameful actions of their leader

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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

And now, a decade and a half after his downfall and disgrace, Galliano is set to be the focus of a major exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 Getty Images Graham Platner’s Senate campaign ended in disgrace. — Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Verb

Maybe at least one of them will disgrace themselves in an entertaining fashion. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026 An aide whose connection to Sampson is revealed in the closing seconds of this busy installment is played by Chris Owens, who resembles disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner of New York. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disgrace

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disgrace

Noun

There can be a lot of shame in the discussion if parents are in debt, Kerner said.

— Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Not just shame but gross unfitness for serving in a role at a state university.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of shame

Noun

The strain between city and club began in 2022, when a land deal between two parties for the Angels to purchase the stadium and surrounding property fell through amid a scandal.

— Sam Blum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Most videos across the network were titled with the name of a Democratic politician, followed by an all-caps verb highlighting a negative economic story, a recent scandal, or alleged corruption.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of scandal

Noun

Maceta, moved to pity at times, would put an ear to his friend’s chest and hear how Ruiz’s heart leaped about inside his body, as though trying to fly apart.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
The actress was at a tipping point in her career, shifting from easily relatable protagonists to more complicated characters who didn’t require our affection or our pity.

— Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of pity

Verb

In trying to discredit public concerns about data centers as a psyop, Goldman and others said, tech leaders are taking a page out of the intelligence playbook themselves.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Inflicting these details on the jury, the children’s family members, and the public served no discernible purpose in establishing Clancy’s mens rea, which might have discredited her not-guilty plea.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

Or from locking up Mick Cronin through 2030, even though UCLA’s prickly basketball coach embarrasses the university annually and hasn’t reached a Sweet 16 since 2023.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
The comprehensive regimen is meant to uncover any prior criminal conduct in an applicant’s past as well as embarrassing personal information that could make an employee vulnerable to blackmail.

— Eric Tucker, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrass

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disgorging

disgrace

disgraced

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“Disgrace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disgrace. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of disgrace

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