Synonyms

indignity

American

[in-dig-ni-tee] / ɪnˈdɪg nɪ ti /

noun

plural

indignities

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

Synonyms:

outrage
Obsolete. disgrace or disgraceful action.

indignity British

/ ɪnˈdɪɡnɪtɪ /

noun

injury to one's self-esteem or dignity; humiliation
obsolete disgrace or disgraceful character or conduct

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See insult.

Etymology

Origin of indignity

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You can call that depressing, or an indignity, or a simple fact.

From Salon

She said John O'Sullivan had been responsible for the indignity and degradation his father endured and he had caused misery for the family.

From BBC

The Ashes were decided after only three Tests and England have avoided the indignity of a 5-0 clean sweep.

From BBC

“Goodbye June” mulls over the beauty of life and the indignity of death, but never fully engages with either facet of our relatively short existence.

From Salon

In once again going 3-0 down after three matches, they are left to battle against the indignity of a 5-0 clean sweep.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023