break the reputation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "break the reputation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express that something is destroying a person's or entity's reputation. For example, you could say: "The scandalous incident broke the reputation of the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"They'll be able to create or break the reputation of a company, through chat rooms, in just five minutes.

The New York Times

Whatever the lapses in judgment, many agree that the power to make or break the reputation of performers, conductors and operas comes from the loggionisti, who greeted the decision to cut the standing-room places with dismay.

The New York Times - Arts

You have the power to make or break the reputation of a new device.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Tabitha Aldrich-Smith, communications director at the British Hospitality Association, says: "The situation shows how powerful online review websites can be, making or breaking the reputation of a hotel.

The Guardian

Will this mean the end of the gargantuan research assessment exercise (RAE) in which the work of every active researcher in the UK is assessed and graded by their academic peers and which currently makes or breaks the reputation of university departments?

The Guardian

Over two decades the RAE has become an obsession for British academics and the ratings - from one to five-star - have made or broken the reputations of university departments.

The Guardian

The governor may appeal, but the verdict has broken his winning streak.Business leaders and other reform-minded Louisianians hope it will also break the state's reputation for corruption.

The Economist

Earlier this month, Lord Sewel, who served as an agriculture minister under Tony Blair and is a former senior vice-principal of Aberdeen University, wrote an article for the Huffington Post website in which he trumpeted "new, stronger sanctions" to suspend and expel peers who break the rules and "damage our reputation".

Independent

No matter how hard the party leaders strain and push – no matter how many giant limestone tablets they sacrifice in the name of awful garden design – the best they can hope for is an invitation to the clandestine post-election government-forming meetings that will ultimately wreck their reputations and break the hearts of their supporters.

The Guardian

While Vista was probably never as bad as it was dinged for being, not long after its launch the operating system developed the reputation of breaking the very computers that it was supposed to be upgrading.

Forbes

So he defended Hunt against the first onslaught of a hostile and mostly anti-Murdoch press, but broke the first law of reputation crisis management, which is to get all the information, good and bad, out in public as quickly as possible.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "break the reputation" to convey a significant, often sudden, decline in someone's or something's standing. Ensure the context supports this strong imagery.

Common error

Avoid using "break the reputation" when milder terms like "damage the reputation" or "tarnish the reputation" are more appropriate. Overusing "break" can weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "break the reputation" functions as a verb phrase where "break" acts as a transitive verb taking "the reputation" as its direct object. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable, indicating its established role in English discourse.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "break the reputation" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe a significant and often sudden decline in someone or something's standing. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While less common than alternatives like "damage the reputation", it carries a strong connotation of destruction. It's important to select this phrase when emphasizing a substantial impact on credibility. The usage pattern analysis shows that this phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, with examples from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

destroy the reputation

Replaces "break" with a synonym, focusing on complete ruination.

ruin the reputation

Similar to "destroy", but implies a more thorough and lasting damage.

damage the reputation

Suggests a less severe impact than "break", indicating harm rather than complete destruction.

tarnish the reputation

Implies a staining or discoloration of the reputation, rather than an outright break.

undermine the reputation

Indicates a gradual weakening of the reputation from underneath.

shatter the reputation

Emphasizes a sudden and forceful destruction of the reputation.

compromise the reputation

Highlights a situation where the reputation is put at risk or vulnerability.

erode the reputation

Suggests a gradual wearing away of the reputation over time.

besmirch the reputation

Indicates a dirtying or sullying of the reputation with scandal or negativity.

discredit the reputation

Focuses on making the reputation unbelievable or untrustworthy.

FAQs

How can "break the reputation" be used in a sentence?

You can use "break the reputation" to indicate a significant and often abrupt decline in someone or something's standing. For example: "The scandal threatened to break the reputation of the entire organization."

What are some alternatives to "break the reputation"?

Some alternatives include "damage the reputation", "ruin the reputation", or "tarnish the reputation", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Which is more appropriate, "break the reputation" or "damage the reputation"?

"Break the reputation" implies a more severe and sudden decline, while "damage the reputation" suggests a less drastic impact. Choose the phrase that best reflects the degree of harm inflicted.

What does it mean to "break with a reputation"?

To "break with a reputation" means to act in a way that is inconsistent with your established image or standing. It suggests a departure from expected behavior. An example of this can be found when sources describe someone who "broke from his reputation".