Synonyms of infamy

infamy

noun

ˈin-fə-mē 

as in disgrace

the state of having lost the esteem of others

despite her eventual pardons, she could never completely free herself of the infamy of being named a war criminal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disgrace
• shame
• ignominy
• humiliation
• contempt
• disrepute
• odium
• dishonor
• opprobrium
• obloquy
• stigma
• disdain
• discredit
• reproach
• scandal
• disesteem
• disapproval
• taint
• scorn
• stain
• degradation
• disapprobation
• despite
• dust
• abasement
• debasement
• blot
• brand
• deprecation
• disfavor
• slur
• debasing
• shadow
• smirch
• spot
• humbling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• respect
• honor
• esteem
• regard
• admiration
• fear
• appreciation
• estimation
• fame
• glory
• reverence
• awe
• renown
• repute

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun infamy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of infamy are disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, and ignominy. While all these words mean "the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach," infamy usually implies notoriety as well as exceeding shame.

a day that lives in infamy

When can disgrace be used instead of infamy?

The words disgrace and infamy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism.

sent home in disgrace

In what contexts can dishonor take the place of infamy?

In some situations, the words dishonor and infamy are roughly equivalent. However, dishonor emphasizes the loss of honor that one has enjoyed or the loss of self-esteem.

preferred death to life with dishonor

When is it sensible to use disrepute instead of infamy?

Although the words disrepute and infamy have much in common, disrepute stresses loss of one's good name or the acquiring of a bad reputation.

a once proud name fallen into disrepute

When would ignominy be a good substitute for infamy?

The words ignominy and infamy can be used in similar contexts, but ignominy stresses humiliation.

the ignominy of being arrested

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of infamy

In statistical terms, 1977-78, 1994-95 and 2001-02 were particularly poor overall, but this campaign is heading towards eclipsing even those in infamy. —Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025

Amanda Knox opens up with Fresh Air American Amanda Knox was catapulted into global infamy after being accused of the 2007 murder of her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, during a study abroad program in Perugia, Italy. —Npr Staff, NPR, 29 Mar. 2025

Double-amputee Olympian Oscar Pistorius went from being seen at the 2012 London Games as a model of overcoming adversity to a place of infamy after the South African sprinter was convicted of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2015. —Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025

Few White House events have earned the kind of instant infamy that greeted Friday’s disastrous meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2025