indignity

[in-dig-ni-tee]

noun

plural

indignities 

1. an injury to a person's dignity; slighting or contemptuous treatment; humiliating affront, insult, or injury.

   Synonyms: outrage

2. Obsolete.,  disgrace or disgraceful action.

indignity

/ ɪnˈdɪɡnɪtɪ /

noun

1. injury to one's self-esteem or dignity; humiliation

2. obsolete,  disgrace or disgraceful character or conduct

Word History and Origins

Origin of indignity¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin indignitās “unworthiness,” equivalent to indign(us) “undeserving, unworthy”( indign ) + -itās -ity

Synonym Study

See insult.

Example Sentences

Park’s graphic elegance may be at odds with the awkward, idle indignities depicted onscreen, but the discrepancy between the two generates an edge-of-your-seat tension.

From Salon

“Today, the Court needlessly subjects countless more to these exact same indignities.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Today, the Court needlessly subjects countless more to these exact same indignities," she wrote.

From BBC

That view absolves us of trying to understand the systemic source of those indignities as something other than unkindness.

From Salon

Becoming a royal won’t save Markle from similar indignities; indeed, she can count on the escalation of such attacks once the inebriation of wedding planning ends.

From Salon

Related Words

• injustice 
• insult 
• opprobrium