“Louvois had not openly taken further steps to discredit her family, but he had dropped a word here, a word there, into the right ears and let the slander spread of its own accord.”

Verb

▲

To demonstrate or expose to the falsehood of something

disprove

blow out of the water

drive a coach and horses through

knock the bottom out of

show in its true light

knocks props out from under

pick an argument with

argue the pros and cons of

take issue with

protest against

take a stand against

have an argument about

bandy words concerning

knock props from under

take down a peg

take wind out of sails

inquire^US

enquire^UK

defend oneself against

more ❯

“Experts would easily discredit Giorgio's incredulous claims about ancient aliens building the pyramids.”

Verb

▲

To exercise or express disbelief or doubt

have no confidence in

have no faith in

challenge

not credit

take with a pinch of salt

regard with suspicion

have misgivings about

have reservations about

have suspicions about

feel apprehensive about

misbelieve

look askance at

take with a grain of salt

harbour suspicions about

harbour reservations about

have a funny feeling about

be distrustful of

be mistrustful of

be uneasy about

more ❯

“Leoline was the first to discredit the rumor, the only one who disbelieved.”

Verb

▲

To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is

minimise^UK

minimize^US

criticise^UK

criticize^US

stigmatize^US

dishonour^UK

dishonor^US

stigmatise^UK

scandalize^US

trivialize^US

debase

give a bad name

taint

scandalise^UK

drag through the mire

trivialise^UK

marginalize^US

marginalise^UK

pummel^US

pummelled^UK

sully the reputation of

blacken the reputation of

conduct a smear campaign against

drag someone's name through the mud

demonize^US

demonise^UK

run a smear campaign against

drag someone's name through the mire

look down one's nose at

write false reports about

sully someone's reputation

treat disrespectfully

drag name through mud

demoralise^UK

demoralize^US

injure one's reputation

cast aspersions

damage one's good name

ostracise^UK

ostracize^US

blacken the character of

hurt somebody's feelings

injure the reputation of

cast aspersion

taint someone's name

blacken someone's character

stain someone's good name

accuse falsely

sully someone's name

tarnish someone's name

soil someone's name

blacken someone's name

give something a bad press

give someone the brush-off

cold-shoulder

cast aside

tell someone to get lost

look right through someone

give the cold shoulder to

categorize^US

categorise^UK

give someone a mouthful

call to task

give someone a telling-off

give someone a wigging

give a rocket

pull up

give someone what for

give someone a dressing-down

give someone some stick

give someone an earful

give someone a rollicking

tell off

rap over the knuckles

give someone a rating

give someone a roasting

express disapproval of

belabor^US

belabour^UK

give someone a bad press

cane

bollock

tear to pieces

give someone a bollocking

give someone a caning

give something a battering

jump down one's throat

send someone away with a flea in their ear

be contemptuous about

turn up one's nose at

give a tongue-lashing

jump down someone's throat

give someone a carpeting

bite someone's head off

snap someone's head off

express disapprobation

express disapprobation of

make somebody's hackles rise

ruffle one's feathers

raise your hackles

give the cold shoulder

hold someone to blame

rap someone the knuckles

traumatize^US

satirize^US

satirise^UK

traumatise^UK

antagonize^US

tread on someone's toes

antagonise^UK

cause offense

be an affront to

be offensive

put someone's nose out of joint

get your goat

more ❯

Verb

▲

To have doubts or suspicions about

have reservations about

be suspicious of

have doubts about

have misgivings about

feel uneasy about

harbour suspicions about

have no confidence in

have no faith in

cast doubt on

be chary of

have suspicions about

regard with suspicion

harbour reservations about

feel apprehensive about

have a funny feeling about

discount

look askance at

take with a grain of salt

take with a pinch of salt

entertain doubts about

have hesitations about

cast aspersions on

raise objections to

express reservations about

throw doubt on

express suspicions about

blow out of the water

criticize^US

criticise^UK

drive a coach and horses through

throw down the gauntlet

put up a fight against

set your face against

stand up and be counted against

pick an argument with

prove to be wrong

hammer away at

be at odds

argue the pros and cons of

show to be wrong

bandy words concerning

have an argument about

inquire^US

enquire^UK

more ❯

Verb

▲

To hinder or diminish one's credibility or prospects

Noun

A (degree of) loss or lack of reputation or respect

dishonour^UK

dishonor^US

disfavour^UK

disfavor^US

offence^UK

offense^US

blot on the escutcheon

unhonour^UK

unhonor^US

character assassination

skeleton in the cupboard

swallowing one's pride

lack of respectability

rap over the knuckles

cavilling^UK

caviling^US

more ❯

“The use of such dishonest smear tactics reflects discredit upon the House of Representatives and warrants the investigation of your Committee.”

Noun

▲

A person or thing that is a source of disgrace

“His folly and wickedness make him a discredit to his family.”

Noun

▲

Having an air of doubt or suspicion

“The great Victorian matriarch was certainly inclined to blame Bertie for bringing her domestic bliss to an end, which led in due course to the throne's being plunged into discredit.”

Noun

▲

The state of being skeptical or in disbelief