disgraced
dis-RAYST
/dɪsˈɡreɪst/
Having fallen from a position of honor, respect, or favor; discredited.
Disgraced is used for individuals who once held high status, power, or respect but lost it completely due to their own shameful actions.
The story behind the word. Disgraced comes from the Italian 'disgrazia', which literally means 'out of favor' or 'loss of grace', combining the negative prefix 'dis-' with 'gratia' (grace, favor). It originally referred to losing the favor of a king or patron.
Word relationships
- dishonored: Dishonored implies a loss of moral integrity or respect, while disgraced emphasizes the public loss of status and favor.
- honored: Honored means highly respected, celebrated, and held in high esteem.
Commonly confused with
- ashamed: Ashamed is an internal feeling of guilt, while disgraced is an external state of public dishonor.
Word family
- disgrace (noun): Loss of reputation or respect as the result of a dishonorable action.
- disgrace (verb): To bring shame or discredit upon.
Collocations
- disgraced politician
- disgraced executive
- disgraced athlete
- publicly disgraced
Example sentences
- "The disgraced CEO was forced to return his bonus after the fraud was uncovered." A news headline about a corporate scandal
- "The disgraced athlete was stripped of his gold medals after testing positive for banned substances." A sports article about a cheating athlete
Memory hook
Think of 'dis-graced' as 'dismissed from grace'. You were once in a high, graceful position, but now you have been kicked out. Fallen from grace.
When not to use
Do not use disgraced for someone who was never respected or high-ranking in the first place; it requires a fall from grace.
Fun facts
- In medieval courts, being 'disgraced' by the monarch often meant immediate banishment from court and the confiscation of all personal property.
Related words
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