ignominy

[ ig-nuh-min-ee, ig-nom-uh-nee ]

noun

, plural ig·no·min·ies

1. disgrace; dishonor; public contempt.

   Synonyms: opprobrium, obloquy, shame, discredit, disrepute

   Antonyms: honor, credit

2. shameful or dishonorable quality or conduct or an instance of this.

ignominy

/ ˈɪɡnəˌmɪnɪ /

noun

1. disgrace or public shame; dishonour
2. a cause of disgrace; a shameful act

Derived Forms

• ˌignoˈminiously, adverb
• ˌignoˈminious, adjective
• ˌignoˈminiousness, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ignominy¹

1530–40; < Latin ignōminia, equivalent to ig- (for in- in- ³, apparently by association with ignōbilis ignoble, ignōtus unknown, etc.; cognomen ) + nōmin- (stem of nōmen ) name + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of ignominy¹

C16: from Latin ignōminia disgrace, from ig- (see in- ²) + nōmen name, reputation

Synonym Study

See disgrace.

Example Sentences

That is, they got the ignominy, and McAuliffe got the proceeds.

From The Daily Beast

Carl is repaid for his worldliness with failure and ignominy.

From The Daily Beast

Then, the German loan would catapult him to ignominy, not fame.

From The Daily Beast

The people who put guns into the hands have a share of that ignominy.

From The Daily Beast

Her cousin had only forced a solemn promise from her with the intention of covering her own ignominy.

From Project Gutenberg

He had to hold himself from the ignominy of flight; he rose to cut his way out, making an effort to strike with precision.

From Project Gutenberg

On a quarrel between him and the Swiss Valet de Chambre, both were dismissed, the one with honour, the other with ignominy.

From Project Gutenberg

By what law, then, do we act, when we treat with so much contempt women fallen into ignominy?

From Project Gutenberg

Upon them, at least, would not fall the ignominy of having been led into the simplest of traps by this white-faced Delilah.

From Project Gutenberg