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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Discredit: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：damage reputation (discredit)

discredit 🔊

/dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/

vt.

to make people stop believing someone is good or honest, or to make something seem bad.

Discredit meaning illustrated: a person publicly accusing another, damaging their reputation.

damage reputation 🔊

➕

/ˈdæmɪdʒ ˌrɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/

vt.

To cause people to stop believing in someone's goodness or honesty, making them seem bad.

📁 Category：Countries & Government 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'dis-' (opposite) + 'credere' (to believe), meaning to deprive of trust.

💡 Mnemonic

Dis-credit: remove credit or trust, like discrediting a false claim.

📖 Example

The false rumors were spread deliberately to discredit the honest politician. 🔊 False rumors were intentionally spread to harm the politician's credibility.

🔗 Collocations

discredit a witness – to undermine the credibility of a witness

discredit an opponent – to harm the reputation of a rival

discredit allegations – to show that accusations are unfounded

🔄 Synonyms

defame (vt.) – to damage the good reputation of someone

slander (vt.) – to make false spoken statements damaging to a person's reputation

smear (vt.) – to damage someone's reputation by false accusations

🚫 Antonyms

credit (vt.) – to believe or trust someone

praise (vt.) – to express warm approval or admiration

validate (vt.) – to confirm or support the validity of something

🌱 Derivatives

discreditable (adj.) – bringing discredit or shame

discreditably (adv.) – in a discreditable manner

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'discredere', meaning to refuse to believe. Entered English in the 16th century, frequently used in legal and political contexts to undermine credibility or trust.

Meaning 2：prove false (discredit)

discredit 🔊

/dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/

vt.

to show that an idea or story is probably not true or reliable.

Discredit definition: a scientist disproving an old theory with new data and evidence.

prove false 🔊

➕

/pruːv fɔːls/

vt.

To demonstrate that an idea or story is likely untrue or unreliable.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The new scientific evidence completely discredited the old theory about the planet's formation. 🔊 Recent scientific findings entirely undermined the validity of the previous planetary formation theory.

🔗 Collocations

discredit a theory – to show that a theory is incorrect

discredit evidence – to cast doubt on the reliability of evidence

discredit a hypothesis – to refute a proposed explanation

🔄 Synonyms

refute (vt.) – to prove a statement or theory to be wrong

debunk (vt.) – to expose the falseness of a myth or idea

invalidate (vt.) – to make something no longer valid or acceptable

🚫 Antonyms

support (vt.) – to give assistance or approval to something

corroborate (vt.) – to confirm or give support to a statement or theory

validate (vt.) – to check or prove the validity of something

🌱 Derivatives

discreditable (adj.) – bringing discredit or shame

discreditably (adv.) – in a discreditable manner