DISGRACE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does disgrace mean? 

• DISGRACE (noun)
  The noun DISGRACE has 1 sense:

1. a state of dishonor

  Familiarity information: DISGRACE used as a noun is very rare.

• DISGRACE (verb)
  The verb DISGRACE has 3 senses:

1. bring shame or dishonor upon

2. reduce in worth or character, usually verbally

3. damage the reputation of

  Familiarity information: DISGRACE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISGRACE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A state of dishonor

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

disgrace; ignominy; shame

Context example:

suffered the ignominy of being sent to prison

Hypernyms ("disgrace" is a kind of...):

dishonor; dishonour (a state of shame or disgrace)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disgrace"):

humiliation (state of disgrace or loss of self-respect)

obloquy; opprobrium (state of disgrace resulting from public abuse)

odium (state of disgrace resulting from detestable behavior)

reproach (disgrace or shame)

Derivation:

disgrace (damage the reputation of)

disgrace (bring shame or dishonor upon)

• DISGRACE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they disgrace    ... he / she / it disgraces   
Past simple: disgraced   
Past participle: disgraced   
-ing form: disgracing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bring shame or dishonor upon

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

attaint; disgrace; dishonor; dishonour; shame

Context example:

he dishonored his family by committing a serious crime

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disgrace"):

befoul; defile; foul; maculate (spot, stain, or pollute)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to disgrace Sue

Derivation:

disgrace (a state of dishonor)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reduce in worth or character, usually verbally

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

degrade; demean; disgrace; put down; take down

Context example:

His critics took him down after the lecture

Hypernyms (to "disgrace" is one way to...):

abase; chagrin; humble; humiliate; mortify (cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disgrace"):

reduce (lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation)

dehumanise; dehumanize (deprive of human qualities)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Damage the reputation of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

discredit; disgrace

Context example:

This newspaper story discredits the politicians

Hypernyms (to "disgrace" is one way to...):

belittle; disparage; pick at (express a negative opinion of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

disgrace (a state of dishonor)

 Context examples 

It was a burning shame and a scandalous disgrace to act in that way.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

No; he would never disgrace his name so far.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I didn't ask any questions, of course, but I felt so sorry for them and was rather glad I hadn't any wild brothers to do wicked things and disgrace the family.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It was certainly more roomy than the ordinary four-wheeled disgrace to London, and the fittings, though frayed, were of rich quality.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"You think I'm no good?—that I've fallen down and am a disgrace to the family?"

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Those cottages are really a disgrace.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I could not bear the disgrace.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But, save her from this disgrace, and she shall never be disgraced by us.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He is a disgrace to the name of man.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)