WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•grace /dɪsˈgreɪs/USA pronunciation
n., v., -graced, -grac•ing.
n.
v. [~ + object]
dis•grace•ful•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n.
- the loss of respect or honor;
ignominy:[uncountable]He had to resign in disgrace. - [countable* usually singular] a person, act, or thing that causes shame.
v. [~ + object]
- to bring or reflect shame or dishonor upon:She disgraced herself by passing out at the party.
- to dismiss with discredit:to be disgraced at court.
dis•grace•ful•ly, adv.
dis•grace
(dis grās′),USA pronunciation n., v., -graced, -grac•ing.
n.
v.t.
dis•grac′er, n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n.
- the loss of respect, honor, or esteem;
ignominy;
shame:the disgrace of criminals. - a person, act, or thing that causes shame, reproach, or dishonor or is dishonorable or shameful.
- the state of being out of favor;
exclusion from favor, confidence, or trust:courtiers and ministers in disgrace.
v.t.
- to bring or reflect shame or reproach upon:to be disgraced by cowardice.
- to dismiss with discredit;
put out of grace or favor;
rebuke or humiliate:to be disgraced at court.
- Italian disgraziare, derivative of disgrazia
- Middle French disgracier
- Latin gratia (see grace); (verb, verbal)
- Italian disgrazia, equivalent. to dis- dis-1 + grazia
- Middle French
- (noun, nominal) 1540–50
- 1. disapproval, disapprobation, notoriety, taint. Disgrace, dishonor, ignominy, infamy imply a very low position in the opinion of others. Disgrace implies the disfavor of others:to be in disgrace.Dishonor implies a stain on honor or honorable reputation; it relates esp. to the person's own conduct:He preferred death to dishonor.Ignominy is disgrace in which one's situation invites contempt:the ignominy of being discovered cheating.Infamy is shameful notoriety, or baseness of action or character that is widely known and recognized:The children never outlived the father's infamy. 3. disfavor, odium, obloquy. 4. dishonor, defame, stain, sully, taint. 5. degrade, disapprove.
- 1. honor.
dis•grace•ful
(dis grās′fəl),USA pronunciation adj.
dis•grace′ful•ly, adv.
dis•grace′ful•ness, n.
- bringing or deserving disgrace;
shameful;
dishonorable;
disreputable.
- disgrace + -ful 1585–95
dis•grace′ful•ness, n.