ignominy

American  

[ig-nuh-min-ee, ig-nom-uh-nee] / ˈɪg nəˌmɪn i, ɪgˈnɒm ə ni /

noun

plural

ignominies

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.

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ignominy British  

/ ˈɪɡnəˌmɪnɪ /

noun

1. disgrace or public shame; dishonour

2. a cause of disgrace; a shameful act

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Related Words

See disgrace.

Other Word Forms

• ignominious adjective
• ignominiously adverb
• ignominiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of ignominy

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

Example Sentences

When Oasis scheduled their single Roll With It for release a week before Blur's Country House that August, Blur were worried about the possible ignominy of being kept off the number one spot.

From BBC

It means head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Harry Brook, who scored 53 in England's 184-7, begin their World Cup without the ignominy of overseeing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

From BBC

But West Ham have the ignominy of holding the record for the team relegated with the most points in the 20-team era.

From BBC

Rather than ushering the victim to the next life, this shunts him further into obscurity and ignominy.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Jets are no strangers to ignominy, but the Glenn era has started off with a depth of misery that’s a first even for them.

From The Wall Street Journal