indignity

noun

in·​dig·​ni·​ty in-ˈdig-nə-tē 

plural indignities

1

a

: an act that offends against a person's dignity or self-respect : insult

b

: humiliating treatment

2

obsolete : lack or loss of dignity or honor

Synonyms

• affront
• barb
• brickbat
• cut
• dart
• dig
• dis [slang]
• diss
• epithet
• gird
• insult
• name
• offense
• offence
• outrage
• personality
• poke
• put-down
• sarcasm
• slap
• slight
• slur

Examples of indignity in a Sentence

He remembers all the indignities he had to suffer in the early years of his career.

We must endure the indignities of growing old.

He suffered the indignity of being forced to leave the courtroom.

The indignity of it all was too much to bear.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the key message of Spacey Unmasked, Haywood says: to give men a platform to shed that indignity. —Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024

Others have no plans to allow their gnomes to endure the indignity of residing outside in potentially poor weather conditions. —Steve Reed, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin indignitat-, indignitas, from indignus

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

indignity

noun

in·​dig·​ni·​ty in-ˈdig-nət-ē 

plural indignities

1

: an act that injures a person's dignity or self-respect : insult

2

: humiliating treatment

Legal Definition

indignity

noun

in·​dig·​ni·​ty in-ˈdig-nə-tē 

plural indignities

: persistent and intolerable behavior toward a spouse especially as a manifestation of settled estrangement