The difference between Demerit and Discredit
When used as nouns, demerit means a quality of being inadequate, whereas discredit means the act of discrediting or disbelieving, or the state of being discredited or disbelieved.
When used as verbs, demerit means to deserve, whereas discredit means to harm the good reputation of a person.
check bellow for the other definitions of Demerit and Discredit
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Demerit as a noun:
A quality of being inadequate; a fault; a disadvantage
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Demerit as a noun:
A mark given for bad conduct to a person attending an educational institution or serving in the army.
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Demerit as a noun:
That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert.
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Demerit as a verb (transitive, archaic):
To deserve.
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Demerit as a verb (transitive, archaic):
To depreciate or cry down.
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Discredit as a verb (transitive):
To harm the good reputation of a person; to cause an idea or piece of evidence to seem false or unreliable.
Examples:
"The candidate tried to discredit his opponent."
"The evidence would tend to discredit such a theory."
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Discredit as a noun:
The act of discrediting or disbelieving, or the state of being discredited or disbelieved.
Examples:
"Later accounts have brought the story into discredit."
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Discredit as a noun:
A degree of dishonour or disesteem; ill repute; reproach.