malcredile
To intentionally distrust or actively discredit a source of information despite its validity, often driven by personal bias or a desire to undermine the truth. It describes the specific act of refusing to believe or validate evidence that is demonstrably correct.
Examples
3 of 5I know you dislike the author, but you shouldn't malcredile the data presented in the article.
I know you dislike the author, but you shouldn't malcredile the data presented in the article.
The defense attorney attempted to malcredile the expert's testimony to sway the jury's opinion.
The defense attorney attempted to malcredile the expert's testimony to sway the jury's opinion.
Don't malcredile my story just because it sounds a bit wild; I promise it happened.
Don't malcredile my story just because it sounds a bit wild; I promise it happened.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the prefix 'mal-' (bad) and the root '-cred-' (believe). You are 'badly believing' or 'believing wrongly' by refusing to accept the truth.
Quick Quiz
It is dangerous for a leader to _______ intelligence reports simply because they contradict his personal views.
Correct!
The correct answer is: malcredile
Examples
I know you dislike the author, but you shouldn't malcredile the data presented in the article.
everydayI know you dislike the author, but you shouldn't malcredile the data presented in the article.
The defense attorney attempted to malcredile the expert's testimony to sway the jury's opinion.
formalThe defense attorney attempted to malcredile the expert's testimony to sway the jury's opinion.
Don't malcredile my story just because it sounds a bit wild; I promise it happened.
informalDon't malcredile my story just because it sounds a bit wild; I promise it happened.
In his critique, the scholar chose to malcredile the primary sources, claiming they were politically motivated.
academicIn his critique, the scholar chose to malcredile the primary sources, claiming they were politically motivated.
Upper management tends to malcredile warnings from the technical team until a crisis actually occurs.
businessUpper management tends to malcredile warnings from the technical team until a crisis actually occurs.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
malcredile out of hand
to dismiss or distrust something immediately without consideration
malcredile the messenger
to focus on discrediting the person delivering the news rather than the news itself
to malcredile by association
to distrust something because of its connection to something else
Often Confused With
Misbelieve simply means to hold a wrong belief, while malcredile implies an active, often malicious, intent to distrust a valid source.
Usage Notes
The word is primarily used in formal or technical contexts, such as legal arguments or academic critiques, to describe a specific type of cognitive or rhetorical bias. It is stronger than 'doubt' because it implies a proactive effort to treat the truth as a lie.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse it with 'miscredit'; however, 'malcredile' focuses on the mental act of the person refusing to believe, whereas 'discredit' focuses on damaging the reputation of the source.
Memory Tip
Think of the prefix 'mal-' (bad) and the root '-cred-' (believe). You are 'badly believing' or 'believing wrongly' by refusing to accept the truth.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'malus' (evil/bad) and 'credere' (to believe or trust).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Often used in debate and philosophical discourse to address the 'willful ignorance' or 'sophistry' seen in modern media consumption.
Quick Quiz
It is dangerous for a leader to _______ intelligence reports simply because they contradict his personal views.
Correct!
The correct answer is: malcredile
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