verb

harm the good reputation of.

his remarks were taken out of context in an effort to discredit him

disgrace,dishonour,bring into disrepute,damage someone’s reputation,blacken someone’s name,destroy someone’s credibility,drag through the mud/mire,put/show in a bad light,reflect badly on,compromise,give someone a bad name,bring into disfavour,stigmatize,detract from,disparage,denigrate,devalue,diminish,demean,belittle,defame,slander,cast aspersions on,malign,vilify,calumniate,smear,tarnish,besmirch,soil,slur,do a hatchet job on,smirch,besmear