IGNOMINIOUS Synonyms: 123 Similar and Opposite Words

ignominious

adjective

ˌig-nə-ˈmi-nē-əs

Definition of ignominious

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

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

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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 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 The first of such occurrences in nearly two years, this marks an ignominious milestone and potential turning point in Moscow’s years-long invasion effort. — Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for ignominious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ignominious

Adjective

Krieps played the notorious wife of a Nazi concentration camp commander, Ilsa Koch, who was said to torture prisoners and make household objects out of human skin.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026
Andrew was notorious for his tight-fistedness, despite his wealth.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of notorious

Adjective

So, yes — 36 years later, that infamous week is still fresh one everyone's minds.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
All of it makes for a dramatic telling of the infamous murders, but Murphy’s version departs significantly from what is known about the actual events.

— Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of infamous

Adjective

Back then, researchers were focused on eradicating the New World screwworm, a nasty pest that lays its eggs in wounds on living creatures.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Paul and Matthews have been embroiled in a nasty social media feud that sparked after ABC pulled The Bachelorette season 22.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of nasty

Adjective

Both raised concerns about the 2024 version, telling state lawmakers that the universities could face criminal penalties, civil fines or the loss of federal contracts.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
To spoil more of the joke’s punch lines would be criminal, but rest assured her son eventually confronts her about it.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of criminal

Adjective

Cans, water containers, mattresses and crosses - seeming evidence of the home's former Christian occupants — lay scattered across a dirty room.

— Diego Ibarra Sánchez, NPR, 19 Sep. 2026
The lingerers brought their dirty dishes to the bus tub, wiped their mouths one last time with a napkin, and waved to Cleo, their faces saying, Nice job!

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of dirty

Adjective

Beyond the shimmying visit, the mystery of who killed Victor is expected to motor the sophomore season’s overarching storyline, including digging into people from the corrupt politician’s shady past.

— Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
Because in a state whose government is supposed to be blessed with sunshine 365 days a year, Hope Florida is shady as heck.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Sep. 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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ignominies

ignominious

ignominy

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“Ignominious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ignominious. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ignominious

adjective

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