fall from grace
Topple from esteem
A fall from grace is a loss of status, reputation, or favor, especially after a period of success or respect.
The phrase comes from religious language about losing divine favor through sin, but now applies broadly to public figures, institutions, or anyone whose standing collapses: The CEO's fall from grace was swift after the scandal broke.
The phrase often implies the person brought it on themselves.
Painful awareness of failure
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- ignominyState of dishonor
- dishonorLoss of respect
infamy · discredit · disrepute · stigma · tarnish · reproach · condemnation · vilification
Reduction in status
- downgradeReduce in status
- relegationAssignment to lower status
- dethronementRemoval from sovereign power
- unseatingRemoving from a position
ousting · deposition · displacement · toppling · decline · descent · collapse · undoing
Banishment from a group
- excommunicationFormal barring from sacraments
- outcastShunned, rejected person
- alienationState of being isolated
- banishmentForced removal from place
expulsion · shunning · pariah · rejection · blacklisting · exclusion · cast out · persona non grata
shame
Painful awareness of failure
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- ignominyState of dishonor
dishonor · infamy · discredit · disrepute · stigma · tarnish · reproach · condemnation · vilification · censure
demotion
Reduction in status
- downgradeReduce in status
- relegationAssignment to lower status
- dethronementRemoval from sovereign power
unseating · ousting · deposition · displacement · toppling · decline · descent · collapse · undoing · comeuppance
ostracism
Banishment from a group
- excommunicationFormal barring from sacraments
- outcastShunned, rejected person
- alienationState of being isolated
banishment · expulsion · shunning · pariah · rejection · blacklisting · exclusion · cast out · persona non grata · social death
- mythsmyth, legend, fable, fairy tale, folk tale
- drama themesrevenge, betrayal, forbidden love, love triangle, family conflict
- Good and Evilgood, evil, good versus evil, virtue and vice, morality
- humiliationashamed, abasement, embarrassed, chagrin, mortified
- moral talesfable, parable, moral stories, allegory, moral fables
- reputationreputation, reputable, bad reputation, repute, disreputable
fall from graceelevation
Height above reference point
breakthrough · coronation · coming into one's own · social climbing · upward mobility
fall from graceredemption
Recovery or moral restoration
salvation · restoration · absolution · state of grace · rehabilitation
fall from gracevindication
Clearance of blame
rehabilitation · exoneration · comeback · canonization · beatification
fall, grace, fallen, graceful, falling, falls, disgrace, downfall, waterfall