French word

déshonorer

Pronunciation

IPA/dezonoʁe/

Meaning

  • verbdisgrace

Example

Tu vas déshonorer ta famille.

You are going to disgrace your family.

Illustration for déshonorer (disgrace)

More examples

Son comportement risque de déshonorer toute la famille.

His behavior risks dishonoring the whole family.

Core concept

A person's public honor is stained by an action that brings shame before others.

Common phrases

  • déshonorer sa famille

    dishonor one's family

  • déshonorer quelqu'un

    dishonor someone

Similar words

humilier: Humiliate someone in public and wound their pride.
faire honte à: Cause someone to feel ashamed.
salir: Damage a reputation or image so that others lose trust.
rabaisser: Belittle someone through words or behavior, making them seem inferior.

Definition in French

Faire perdre l'honneur à quelqu'un en le rendant honteux devant les autres.

Word origin

The verb combines the privative prefix dé- with honorer, from Latin honorare, and means to strip someone of honor.

Usage tips

  • Déshonorer is strong and often formal, while faire honte à is a softer everyday way to say that someone causes shame.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word