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notorious
adjective
Did you know?
For those who don’t give a hang about a bad reputation, being notorious for unpopular behavior is no biggie. (Being notorious for topping the Billboard charts? Now that's a Biggie.) Although notorious (which comes from Latin noscere, "to come to know") can be a synonym of famous, it's more often a synonym of infamous, having long ago developed the additional implication of someone or something disreputable. The Book of Common Prayer of 1549 includes one of the first known uses of the unfavorable meaning in print, referring to "notorious synners." You know what they say: more notorious synners, more problems.
Synonyms
famous, renowned, celebrated, noted, notorious, distinguished, eminent, illustrious mean known far and wide.
famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.
renowned implies more glory and acclamation.
celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.
noted suggests well-deserved public attention.
distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.
eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.
illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.
Examples of notorious in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'notorious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Notorious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/notorious. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
notorious
adjectiveLegal Definition
notorious
adjectiveMore from Merriam-Webster on notorious
Nglish: Translation of notorious for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of notorious for Arabic Speakers
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