What does "disgrace" mean?
The condition of being out of favor; loss of favor, regard, or respect.
Disgrace
/dɪsˈɡɹeɪs/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The condition of being out of favor; loss of favor, regard, or respect.
- Grammar: disgrace is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: ignominy, shame, abasement, abomination.
- Useful contrasts: acceptance, acclaim, applause.
- Usage evidence: Your wrongdoing is a disgrace to our school.
How to use "disgrace"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "disgrace" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "disgrace" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "disgrace" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "disgrace" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "disgrace" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ignominy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "disgrace", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The condition of being out of favor; loss of favor, regard, or respect. countable, uncountable
"I heare / Macduffe liues in diſgrace. Sir, can you tell / Where he beſtowes himſelfe?"
- 2 a state of dishonor wordnet
- 3 The state of being dishonored, or covered with shame. countable, uncountable
"Now she lives in disgrace."
- 4 Someone or something which brings dishonor; the cause of reproach or shame; great discredit. countable
"His behaviour at the party was a total disgrace! He was leeching on all the ladies, and insulting the men."
- 5 An act of unkindness; a disfavor. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"As for the pulling of them [ambitious men] downe, if the Affaires require it, and that it may not be done with ſafety ſuddainly, the onely Way is, the Enterchange, continually of Fauours, and Diſgraces, whereby they may not know, what to expect; And be, as it were, in a Wood."
Verb
- 1 To put someone or something out of favor; to bring shame or ignominy upon. transitive
"[…] some families renounced the use of a certain praenomen which had been disgraced by one of their name […]"
- 2 damage the reputation of wordnet
- 3 reduce in worth or character, usually verbally wordnet
- 4 bring shame or dishonor upon wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Your wrongdoing is a disgrace to our school."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "disgrace"?
Common synonyms include: ignominy, shame, abasement, abomination, asperse, aspersion.
How do you use "disgrace" in a sentence?
Your wrongdoing is a disgrace to our school.
How do you pronounce "disgrace"?
Pronounced /dɪsˈɡɹeɪs/.
Etymology
From Middle French disgracier.