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

Can the Leafs avoid the ignominy that would come with blowing a 3-0 series lead? —James Mirtle, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Dutton also faces the potential ignominy of losing his own seat in parliament, as happened to Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre. —Hilary Whiteman and Angus Watson, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025

Then to jib down and find that sad ignominy of his body in the sack with the bloodstain. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025

Eric Wynalda dribbled toward the goal box and curled a shot inside the far post for an 88th-minute strike, saving the league’s debut from scoreless ignominy and lifting San Jose’s club, then named the Clash, to a 1-0 win over D.C. United. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025

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