infamous

[in-fuh-muhs]

See more synonyms for infamous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having an extremely bad reputation: an infamous city.
deserving of or causing an evil reputation; shamefully malign; detestable: an infamous deed.
Law.
1. deprived of certain rights as a citizen, as a consequence of conviction of certain offenses.
2. of or relating to offenses involving such deprivation.

Origin of infamous

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin infām(is) (see infamy) + -ous

Related formsin·fa·mous·ly, adverbin·fa·mous·ness, noun

Can be confusedfamous infamous notorious (see synonym study at famous)

Synonyms for infamous

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. disreputable, ill-famed, notorious. 2. disgraceful, scandalous; nefarious, odious, wicked, shocking, vile, base, heinous, villainous.

Antonyms for infamous

1. reputable. 2. praiseworthy, admirable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for infamous

outrageous, monstrous, vile, egregious, scandalous, vicious, heinous, ignominious, hateful, notorious, shocking, disgraceful, abominable, atrocious, base, caitiff, contemptible, corrupt, degenerate, despicable

Examples from the Web for infamous

Contemporary Examples of infamous

The main effort in the attack was carried out by the infamous Waffen SS 6th Panzer Army.
Hitler’s Hail Mary
James A. Warren
December 20, 2014
Do they not recall the appalling ramifications of the infamous moment when Michelle Obama put her arm around the Queen in 2009?
LeBron's Touchy Feely Protocol Breach
Tom Sykes
December 9, 2014
A notably large Irish contingent took part in the infamous draft riots because they did not want to compete for jobs with blacks.
This Week's Riots Are Part of America's Long History of Racial Rage
Sharon Adarlo
November 29, 2014
The most infamous case was that of Kanae Kijima, a onetime housekeeper who became a highly paid mistress.
Beware of Japan’s “Black Widows”
Jake Adelstein
November 20, 2014
The reality star bared her infamous behind on the cover of Paper magazine, and the web went wild.
Kim Kardashian Bares Her Shiny, Bounteous Butt, Breaks the Internet
Marlow Stern
November 12, 2014

Historical Examples of infamous

When I see you, and tell of their infamous tricks, you will be as much surprised as I am.
The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson
Robert Southey
And all this is the consequence of the infamous law which you men have made!
A Comedy of Marriage and Other Tales
Guy De Maupassant
Here the infamous Tschauna harassed me and well-nigh put me to shame.
The Chinese Fairy Book
Various
In the midst of these sufferings, he begged of the infamous Girty to shoot him.
Chronicles of Border Warfare
Alexander Scott Withers
In short, it was infamous—a hundred families ruined; left without bread.
Doctor Pascal
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for infamous

infamous

adjective

having a bad reputation; notorious
causing or deserving a bad reputation; shockinginfamous conduct
criminal law (formerly)
1. (of a person) deprived of certain rights of citizenship on conviction of certain offences
2. (of a crime or punishment) entailing such deprivation

Derived Formsinfamously, adverbinfamousness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for infamous

adj.

late 14c., from Medieval Latin infamosus, from Latin in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + famosus "celebrated" (see famous). Meaning influenced by Latin infamis "of ill fame" (see infamy). As a legal term, "disqualified from certain rights of citizens in consequence of conviction of certain crimes" (late 14c.). Related: Infamously.