infamous
[in-fuh-muh s]
- having an extremely bad reputation: an infamous city.
- deserving of or causing an evil reputation; shamefully malign; detestable: an infamous deed.
- Law.
- deprived of certain rights as a citizen, as a consequence of conviction of certain offenses.
- of or relating to offenses involving such deprivation.
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Origin of infamous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for infamous on Thesaurus.com1. disreputable, ill-famed, notorious. 2. disgraceful, scandalous; nefarious, odious, wicked, shocking, vile, base, heinous, villainous.
Antonyms
1. reputable. 2. praiseworthy, admirable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for infamous
Contemporary Examples
The main effort in the attack was carried out by the infamous Waffen SS 6th Panzer Army.
Do they not recall the appalling ramifications of the infamous moment when Michelle Obama put her arm around the Queen in 2009?
A notably large Irish contingent took part in the infamous draft riots because they did not want to compete for jobs with blacks.
The most infamous case was that of Kanae Kijima, a onetime housekeeper who became a highly paid mistress.
The reality star bared her infamous behind on the cover of Paper magazine, and the web went wild.
Historical Examples
When I see you, and tell of their infamous tricks, you will be as much surprised as I am.
The Life of Horatio Lord NelsonRobert Southey
And all this is the consequence of the infamous law which you men have made!
A Comedy of Marriage and Other TalesGuy De Maupassant
Here the infamous Tschauna harassed me and well-nigh put me to shame.
The Chinese Fairy BookVarious
In the midst of these sufferings, he begged of the infamous Girty to shoot him.
Chronicles of Border WarfareAlexander Scott Withers
In short, it was infamous—a hundred families ruined; left without bread.
Doctor PascalEmile Zola
infamous
- having a bad reputation; notorious
- causing or deserving a bad reputation; shockinginfamous conduct
- criminal law (formerly)
- (of a person) deprived of certain rights of citizenship on conviction of certain offences
- (of a crime or punishment) entailing such deprivation
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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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper