What does disgrace mean?
Word: Disgrace
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Disgrace means loss of respect because of bad behaviour; also something so bad that it brings shame.
Synonyms: shame, dishonour, humiliation, scandal
Antonyms: respect, glory, pride
How do you spell disgrace?
Syllables: dis - grace
Tricky part: Grace keeps its ce ending inside disgrace; disgrase, with an s, is the usual slip.
Watch out for: disgrase, disgraice, disgrece
Memory tip: Grace and disgrace end like face and place: c-e, never s-e.
Disgrace in a sentence
Example 1: The captain left the field in disgrace after arguing with the umpire.
Example 2: Leaving the classroom in such a mess is a disgrace.
Example 3: He felt he had brought disgrace on his family by lying.
Fun Fact
Grace comes from the Latin gratia, favour or thanks, the same root as gratitude and the Spanish word gracias.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to disgrace as used in the sentence:
The team's rude behaviour on the tour brought disgrace on the whole cricket board.
a) honour
b) blame
c) anger
d) worry
Show answer
a) honour. Honour is exactly what the rude behaviour took away from the board; anger, blame and worry are what followed it.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. dissgrace 2. disguise 3. dismay 4. disgust
a) sudden worry and disappointment
b) a strong feeling of dislike
c) loss of respect because of bad behaviour
d) clothes or make-up that hide who you are
Show answer
c) loss of respect because of bad behaviour. Dissgrace doubles the s, but disgrace has just one, so its meaning is the one wanted.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The boy hung his head in caisgerd when the teacher found the torn library book in his bag.
a) discard
b) disgrace
c) disagree
d) discharge
Show answer
b) disgrace. Discharge needs an h, disagree a second e and discard a second d; a boy hanging his head is in disgrace.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which act would bring disgrace on a team?
a) winning fairly
b) thanking the fans
c) training hard
d) cheating in the final
Show answer
d) cheating in the final
2. "The state of the bus stand is a disgrace." The speaker thinks the bus stand ____.
a) is closed for a holiday
b) is shamefully dirty or neglected
c) is newly painted and clean
d) has just been moved
Show answer
b) is shamefully dirty or neglected
