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

Bam Adebayo added 24 points (on 10 for 22 shooting) and 9 rebounds but suffered the indignity of having a dunk blocked by Jarrett Allen. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025

On the Clock does not shy away from the particular indignities of this type of job. —Rhian Sasseen, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025

One corner of Twitter was aflame with indignity that the government could so wickedly leave people to die. —Lauren Markham, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025

Murphy’s and Newcastle’s second, in particular, was Leicester’s greatest indignity. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin indignitat-, indignitas, from indignus

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for indignity

• malignity
• dignity

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