discredit

dis- +‎ credit.

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• Rhymes: -ɛdɪt

discredit (third-person singular simple present discredits, present participle discrediting, simple past and past participle discredited)

1. (transitive) To harm the good reputation of a person; to cause an idea or piece of evidence to seem false or unreliable.

   The candidate tried to discredit his opponent.

   The evidence would tend to discredit such a theory.

• demean, disgrace, dishonour, disprove, invalidate, tell against

• discreditor

discredit (uncountable)

1. The act of discrediting or disbelieving, or the state of being discredited or disbelieved.

   Later accounts have brought the story into discredit.

2. A degree of dishonour or disesteem; ill repute; reproach.
   • Rogers

     It is the duty of every Christian to be concerned for the reputation or discredit his life may bring on his profession.

• (degree of dishonour): demerit