ignominious

adjective

ˌig-nə-ˈmi-nē-əs How to pronounce ignominious (audio)
Definition of ignominiousnext
1
as in notorious
not respectable some of his friends considered the low-level job to be an ignominious fate for the laid-off executive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency the prison guards degraded themselves with their inhumane, ignominious treatment of the prisoners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ignominious On the heels of becoming the first top seed to lose its regional opener, UCLA leaned into its late-game heroics to avoid ignominious history. — Josh Gross, Daily News, 31 May 2026 What was seen as the injustice of her ignominious end on the gallows was at least one factor of many that propelled a move to war. — Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 Everlane is not the only relic of the ethical consumption era to find itself in ignominious circumstances. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 23 May 2026 In doing so, the TV adaptation fumbled the comics’ superior final act, turning Butcher’s own ignominious death at the hands of Hughie into an ineffective afterthought. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for ignominious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignominious
  1. notorious
  2. vile
  3. infamous
  4. nasty
  5. criminal
  6. dirty
  7. shady
  8. ignoble
Adjective
  • Since then, the once-notorious prison closed its death chamber and Newsom has upheld it as a model of rehabilitation.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This blob of exceptionally warm water formed by spinning off of the Gulf’s Loop Current that is notorious for boosting hurricane strength.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of notorious
Adjective
  • The win of the vile film NZA [sic] at the Venice Festival is shocking.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Kiju looked at me, took my hand, and walked around the woman and out into the night air as those inside gasped and moved to help the vile woman.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of vile
Adjective
  • Leto is infamous for his extreme and controversial approach to the Method.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Eleanor, who died in 2024, filmed over 80 hours of footage during the making of the movie, which starred Kirsten Dunst as the infamous Queen of France.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of infamous
Adjective
  • Ali then went to the top rope and hit a nasty 450 splash through the table.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • However, the modern versions that are packed with high explosives and sit lurking under the dirt to blow up unwary vehicles or pedestrians are much nastier affairs.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of nasty
Adjective
  • The charges include organized theft and criminal association, said Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone.
    — SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Russell Brand has arrived to London’s Southwark Crown Court for the start of his criminal trial.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Walls around the three-sinks are dirty in the ware-washing area.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Postwar Hiroshima was a popular setting for these movie gangsters, who fought dirty, had no use for the old ceremonies, and wore flashy suits and aviator shades.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • The extensive wellness area is built into the rocks with a series of open-air mezzanines, treatment rooms, shady sea-viewing spots and plunge pools.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Aside from Anderson, Paz and Méndez have moments of raw emotion in their scenes together, but Affleck and Washington never generate much heat, while Yeun mostly stands around looking shady.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • The prizes’ name is a reference to Ignatius (Ig) Nobel—a fictional character said to be a distant cousin of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel, for whom the Nobel Prizes are named—and is also a pun on the word ignoble.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This is an ignoble war making monsters and fools out of its participants, and against the uncontrollable weapons that are dragons, everyone’s resolve is crumbling.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 June 2026
Definition of ignoble

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Cite this Entry

“Ignominious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignominious. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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