Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'discredit'

English Word: discredit

Key Russian Translations:

• дискредитировать [dʲɪskrʲɪdʲɪtʲɪrəˈvatʲ] - [Formal]
• опорочить [ɐpɐˈrot͡ɕʲɪtʲ] - [Formal, often used in legal or historical contexts]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are encountered in formal writing, news, and academic discussions but not in everyday casual speech.

Difficulty: B2 - Intermediate, as it involves understanding formal vocabulary and verb conjugations; for 'дискредитировать', it may be more challenging due to its borrowed structure, while 'опорочить' follows more standard Russian patterns.

Pronunciation (Russian):

дискредитировать: [dʲɪskrʲɪdʲɪtʲɪrəˈvatʲ]

опорочить: [ɐpɐˈrot͡ɕʲɪtʲ]

Note on дискредитировать: The stress falls on the fourth syllable (-ти-), which can be tricky for learners due to the word's length and borrowed origin from English/French. Pronunciation may vary slightly in rapid speech.

Note on опорочить: This verb has a soft 'ч' sound, which should be pronounced as a palatalized affricate; common in Russian media contexts.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To harm the reputation of someone or something (Verb, as in causing discredit)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дискредитировать - Used in formal or professional settings, such as politics or journalism, to describe intentional efforts to undermine credibility.
• опорочить - Applied in legal, historical, or ethical discussions, emphasizing moral defamation.

Usage Examples:

• Журналисты попытались дискредитировать политика, распространяя ложные слухи.

  Journalists tried to discredit the politician by spreading false rumors.

• В интернете часто опорочивают известных личностей без доказательств.

  On the internet, famous personalities are often discredited without evidence.

• Эта кампания была designeded для того, чтобы дискредитировать конкурентную компанию.

  This campaign was designed to discredit the competing company.

• Он опорочивает репутацию семьи своими действиями.

  He is discrediting the family's reputation with his actions.

• Социальные сети могут быстро дискредитировать бренд, если появятся негативные отзывы.

  Social media can quickly discredit a brand if negative reviews emerge.

Meaning 2: The state of having lost reputation (Noun, less common)

Translation(s) & Context:

• дискредитация - Used in abstract or formal contexts to denote the process or result of discrediting.

Usage Examples:

• Полная дискредитация теории произошла после публикации новых данных.

  The complete discredit of the theory occurred after the publication of new data.

• Его дискредитация в обществе была неизбежной из-за скандала.

  His discredit in society was inevitable due to the scandal.

• Дискредитация продукта привела к падению продаж.

  The discredit of the product led to a drop in sales.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'дискредитировать' (a verb of the 1st conjugation), it follows standard Russian verb patterns with regular inflections. Below is a table of its key forms:

For 'опорочить' (also 1st conjugation verb), it has similar regular inflections:

Note: These verbs do not have irregular forms, making them relatively straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • очернить - Similar to 'discredit' but often implies more severe moral attack; used in emotional contexts.
  • скомпрометировать - Focuses on compromising integrity, especially in secretive or political scenarios.
• Antonyms:
  • поддержать - To support or back up.
  • защитить - To defend or protect reputation.

Related Phrases:

• дискредитирующая кампания - A discrediting campaign; refers to organized efforts to damage reputation.
• опорочить честь - To discredit honor; used in contexts involving personal or family integrity.
• полная дискредитация - Complete discredit; indicates total loss of credibility in formal settings.

Usage Notes:

'Дискредитировать' is a direct borrowing from Western languages and is most commonly used in modern Russian for formal or professional contexts, aligning closely with the English 'discredit' in meaning. It should be chosen over 'опорочить' when discussing systematic or evidence-based attacks on reputation. Be mindful of the verb's aspect: it's imperfective, so for completed actions, pair it with perfective forms like 'дискредитировать' in narratives. In informal speech, native speakers might opt for simpler synonyms to avoid sounding overly formal.

• Contextual choice: Use 'опорочить' for historical or literary themes, as it carries a more archaic or emotional connotation.
• Grammar tip: Both verbs require accusative case for the object, e.g., "дискредитировать кого-то" (to discredit someone).

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'дискредитировать' with 'дискриминировать' (to discriminate), leading to misuse in sentences. For example:

• Incorrect: "Они дискриминируют его за его мнение." (Wrongly used if meaning 'discredit').
• Correct: "Они дискредитируют его за его мнение." (They discredit him for his opinion.)

Explanation: 'Дискриминировать' relates to unequal treatment based on prejudice, not reputation damage. Always check the context to select the right verb.

• Another error: Forgetting verb conjugation, e.g., using the infinitive in place of conjugated forms in sentences.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like 'дискредитировать' and 'опорочить' often appear in discussions of Soviet-era propaganda or modern political rhetoric, where discrediting opponents was a common tactic. This reflects a historical emphasis on collective reputation and the impact of state-controlled media, helping users understand the word's weight in contexts like literature by authors such as Solzhenitsyn.

Related Concepts:

• репутация (reputation)
• скандал (scandal)
• пропаганда (propaganda)