to discredit
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to discredit
To deliberately damage the reputation or credibility of a person or thing, so that it falls into disrepute and people no longer trust it.
Die Opposition versuchte, den Minister durch die Veröffentlichung alter E-Mails zu diskreditieren.
The opposition tried to discredit the minister by publishing old emails.
The word is made up of the prefix 'dis-' (away, un-) and 'Kredit' (credibility, trust). To 'diskreditieren' (to discredit) someone therefore literally means to take away their trust or credibility.
Durch die Lügenkampagne wurde der Ruf des Politikers gezielt diskreditiert.
The politician's reputation was deliberately discredited through the smear campaign.
'Diskreditieren' (to discredit) is always used with an accusative object. You always discredit 'jemanden' (someone) or 'etwas' (something).
Die Konkurrenzfirma versuchte, das neue Produkt zu diskreditieren.
The competing company tried to discredit the new product.
This word belongs to elevated written language. It is found especially often in texts about politics, the media, or in academic discussions.
In dem Artikel wird die Methodik der Studie als unseriös diskreditiert.
In the article, the study's methodology is discredited as unserious.
to dismantle / to demolish
Demontieren and diskreditieren can both describe a loss of credibility. Diskreditieren aims to deliberately damage someone’s reputation or the trust people place in them. Demontieren refers more to the comprehensive, often gradual dismantling of credibility or authority, for example through a series of damaging revelations.
Sein Gegner versucht, den Behördenleiter mit gezielten Gerüchten zu diskreditieren.
His opponent is trying to discredit the head of the agency with targeted rumors.
Der Untersuchungsbericht demontiert den Behördenleiter mit einer langen Reihe belegter Fehler.
The investigative report demolishes the head of the agency with a long series of documented errors.
