I need help with a word

[Annia]

Could anyone tell me the definition of decridibiliser? I can't find it in the dictionary but think that it means demean or degrade. Thanks.

[Frank]

Hi Annia,

I guess the word you are looking for is décrédibiliser. This is a neologism, which might explain why you didn't find it in a dictionary. It means to discredit, to the away the credibility of sb/sth.

For example if you keep saying that you're great basketball player, but eventually people see you play and realize that you totally suck at basketball, even if you actually used to perform well in the past, this "décrédibilise" you. People won't trust your claims any more.

[Annia]

Thank you so much, Frank.

[Neil Coffey]

P.S. I see this word was missing from the site's dictionary (it's actually not sooo new-- probably came up somewhere around the early 1980s). It'll be added in the next update.

[Cedrick]

Cedrick to the rescue!

It is quite a common verb if French newspaper. I think to understand it the best way is to deconstruct it.

Someone crédule is someone that beleives everything you say to him.

Something crédible is something that you can trust or beleive in. just like a crédit in a way.

So, crédibiliser is the action that makes sure that you can beleive in or trust that thing.

La crise économique a décrédibilisé la finance.
meaning that you cannot trust or belieive in finance anymore.

the word discréditer is an other one; meaning that you've lost the trust or the authority you had before.
hope it helps!

[Annia]

Thanks. You really did explain it well.
Annia