ignominy

noun

ig·​no·​mi·​ny ˈig-nə-ˌmi-nē 

-mə-nē,

 also  ig-ˈnä-mə-nē

plural ignominies

1

: deep personal humiliation and disgrace

2

: disgraceful or dishonorable conduct, quality, or action

Synonyms

• discredit
• disesteem
• disgrace
• dishonor
• disrepute
• infamy
• obloquy
• odium
• opprobrium
• reproach
• shame

Choose the Right Synonym for ignominy

disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, infamy, ignominy mean the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach.

disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism.

sent home in disgrace

dishonor emphasizes the loss of honor that one has enjoyed or the loss of self-esteem.

preferred death to life with dishonor

disrepute stresses loss of one's good name or the acquiring of a bad reputation.

a once proud name fallen into disrepute

infamy usually implies notoriety as well as exceeding shame.

a day that lives in infamy

ignominy stresses humiliation.

the ignominy of being arrested

Examples of ignominy in a Sentence

She had to endure the ignominy of being forced to resign.

the small ignominies that are a part of everyone's life

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, Saturday, UM is relegated to the ignominy of the Pop-Tarts Bowl. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025

The hope was that the trio could usher in a new phase for the reality universe, to move forward after the ignominy of its creator’s sudden exit. —Peter White, Deadline, 21 Feb. 2025

With four more wins, the Wizards can at least avoid the ignominy of the 9-73 Philadelphia team of 1972-73 or the 7-59 Charlotte team of 2011-12. —John Hollinger, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025

Both presidents struggled to overcome economic headwinds and suffered the ignominy of being one-term presidents. —Colin Meyn, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French ignominie, from Latin ignominia, from ig- (as in ignorare to be ignorant of, ignore) + nomin-, nomen name, repute — more at name

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ignominy

• finny
• ginny
• jinny
• mini
• minnie
• ninny
• pinnae
• skinny
• spinney
• swinney
• tinny
• whinny

Kids Definition

ignominy

noun

ig·​no·​mi·​ny ˈig-nə-ˌmin-ē 

ig-ˈnäm-ə-nē

plural ignominies

: deep humiliation and disgrace