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

suffered the ignominy of another losing season

2

: disgraceful or dishonorable conduct, quality, or action

forced to acknowledge their ignominy

Synonyms of ignominy

• disgrace
• shame
• humiliation

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

Saturday brought another defeat, another game when Edwards’ side created little and another reminder that their eight-year stay in the Premier League is ending in ignominy. —Steve Madeley, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

Now players such as Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Cristiano Ronaldo share the ignominy. —Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

Covered for the ignominy of his historically woeful four-for-51 hitting performance. —Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026

The Wizards carried a 10-game losing streak into Saturday and were four days removed from the historic ignominy of allowing 83 points to Miami’s Bam Adebayo. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026

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

circa 1527, 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