discredit

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "discredit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about damaging the reputation or authority of someone or something. For example, "The company's failure to deliver the contract on time discredited their reputation for reliability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a performance, and a result, that does little to discredit the suggestion Pearce has lost the dressing room.

The Guardian - Sport

It would be too much to expect any kind of apology from the intelligence and security committee, which under the chairmanship of the tainted Sir Malcolm Rifkind was quick to discredit the Snowden disclosures, for failing to tell the public about what GCHQ has actually been up to all these years.

The Guardian

In previous high-profile murders in Russia, the person who ordered them has not been found, with officials often suggesting it was set up from outside the country to discredit Putin and the Kremlin.

The Guardian

Social media tools have encouraged far right activists to become far more combative and – persistently – attempt to insult individuals and discredit their research.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Most of you probably already know that transvestite creature Lady Gaga is about to release a music video," began one recent missive, purportedly circulated by Miley Cyrus fans, although perhaps created by a third fanbase wishing to discredit both Gaga and Cyrus in one fell swoop.

The Guardian - Music

The National Front aims to reduce Anwar's majority and discredit his bid for national power.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based conservative thinktank that seeks to discredit established science on climate change, said it was sending a team of climate scientists to Rome "to inform Pope Francis of the truth about climate science".

The Guardian

On Tuesday, the Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, attempted to discredit the court action by dismissing one of the lawyers involved as a "former Labor candidate".

The Guardian

On 7 February 2012 the Guardian reported: "A pro-Kremlin group runs a network of internet trolls, seeks to buy flattering coverage of Vladimir Putin and hatches plans to discredit opposition activists and media, according to private emails allegedly hacked by a group calling itself the Russian arm of Anonymous.

The Guardian - Opinion

Romantics see the bracelet as Saint-Exupéry's last sign of devotion, a message from the deep to discredit the anti-Consuelo lobby.

The Guardian - Books

Selim Yilmaz, an Islamic scholar and imam for 27 years, criticised the AKP's attempts to discredit the HDP as "heathen".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "discredit", ensure you have evidence or a logical argument to support your claim, as unsubstantiated accusations can themselves discredit your position.

Common error

Avoid assuming that every attempt to correct or challenge an idea is inherently meant to "discredit" someone. Genuine disagreement or error correction is not always malicious.

Linguistic Context

The verb "discredit" functions primarily to cast doubt on the validity or reliability of something, be it a person's character, an idea, or a piece of evidence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "discredit" is a versatile verb used to undermine the credibility or reputation of something or someone. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and reveals its widespread usage across varied contexts, predominantly in News & Media. While often used with precision, it's crucial to ensure claims of discrediting are substantiated and not simply based on differing opinions. Alternatives like "undermine reputation" or "cast doubt on" can offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas. When writing, be mindful of the potential for misinterpreting genuine disagreements as attempts to "discredit" and strive for accuracy and fairness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

damage the credibility of

Directly addresses harming the believability of something.

undermine someone's reputation

Focuses specifically on damaging someone's reputation.

expose as false

Highlights revealing something to be untrue.

tarnish the image of

Emphasizes harming someone's public image or reputation.

cast doubt on

Emphasizes creating uncertainty about something.

call into question

Similar to "cast doubt on" but slightly more formal.

challenge the validity of

Highlights questioning the truth or accuracy of something.

invalidate

Implies making something officially or legally void.

impugn

Suggests challenging or attacking someone's character or integrity.

debunk

Focuses on proving something wrong or false.

FAQs

How can I use "discredit" in a sentence?

You can use "discredit" to indicate that someone or something's reputation or authority is being damaged. For example, "The evidence would tend to "discredit" such a theory."

What are some synonyms for "discredit"?

Alternatives to "discredit" include "undermine", "invalidate", or "challenge", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "discredit someone's name"?

While you can "discredit" someone, it's more common to say "tarnish someone's name" or "damage someone's reputation". The verb "discredit" typically applies to ideas, evidence, or theories.

What's the difference between "discredit" and "disprove"?

"Discredit" means to harm the reputation or believability of something, while "disprove" means to conclusively demonstrate that something is false. For instance, one might try to "discredit" a witness, but "disprove" a scientific theory.