dishonourable

/dɪsˈɒnərəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪsˈɑːnərəbl/ (ame, ipa)

dishonourable — adjective

  • dishonourablepositive
  • more dishonourablecomparative
  • most dishonourablesuperlative

1. Refers to a deed or course of action that falls below accepted moral standards,

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Refers to a deed or course of action that falls below accepted moral standards, causing people to think less of the person who does it.

例句

The ambassador resigned after committing the dishonourable act of selling state secrets.

collocation: dishonourable act of [wrongdoing]

Local newspapers condemned the mayor's dishonourable deal with a construction company.

同義詞
  • shameful

    focuses on the feeling of humiliation the action causes

  • disgraceful

    emphasises public loss of respect or favour

  • unethical

    more technical; violating professional or moral codes

  • immoral

    broader; going against fundamental moral principles

反義詞
  • honourable

    the direct opposite; deserving respect and admiration

  • praiseworthy

    positive moral judgment; worthy of approval

文法句型

dishonourable + noun (act, conduct, behaviour)

用法筆記

Most frequent in formal contexts — politics, law, military, journalism. Typically modifies abstract nouns such as act, conduct, behaviour, practice, rather than concrete objects.

常見錯誤

❌It was a dishonourable weather to go out.
✅It was a dishonourable act to betray your classmates.
💡dishonourable applies to moral character or actions, not to conditions or situations.
❌He acted in a dishonourable way, but nobody cared.
✅He acted in a dishonourable way, and the committee expelled him.
💡the word carries strong disapproval; use it only where the moral judgment is clear.

2. Said of someone who behaves without integrity or fairness, so that others cannot

2.形容詞B2
釋義

Said of someone who behaves without integrity or fairness, so that others cannot respect or trust them.

例句

The judge described the landlord as a dishonourable man who cheated his tenants for years.

defining relative clause: a dishonourable man who…

No one wanted to work with the contractor after his dishonourable behaviour in the previous project.

同義詞
  • dishonest

    more direct about lying or cheating; less about social standing

  • unprincipled

    emphasises lack of moral guidance or standards

  • untrustworthy

    focuses on the unreliability that results from lack of integrity

  • corrupt

    specifically implies misuse of power or position for personal gain

反義詞

文法句型

dishonourable + noun (person, man, woman, character)

prove + dishonourable

consider + object + dishonourable

用法筆記

Describes a person's character rather than a single action. Often appears with verbs like prove (to be) or consider (someone) dishonourable in formal judgments.

常見錯誤

❌The weather was dishonourable today.
✅He proved to be a dishonourable business partner.
💡dishonourable describes people and their character, not things or conditions.
❌She made a dishonourable mistake.
✅She made a dishonest mistake.' / 'She acted in a dishonourable way.
💡use 'dishonest' for a factual error or lie; use 'dishonourable' for a moral failing.