ignominy
5 synonyms and 4 antonyms for ignominy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Public shame and loss of respect, especially following a humiliating failure or disgrace.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use ignominy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
suffer the ignominy of
the ignominy of defeat
spared the ignominy
final ignominy
Formal and literary; very common in sports and political reporting.
Etymology
From Latin ignominia, from in-, 'not', and nomen, 'name' or 'reputation'.
Full origin of ignominy →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ignominy and infamy?
Ignominy is the shame and loss of standing suffered by the person disgraced, and it usually follows failure or humiliation. Infamy is lasting notoriety for something wicked, and it attaches to serious wrongdoing. Losing badly brings ignominy; a great crime brings infamy.
How is ignominy pronounced?
IG-nuh-min-ee, with the stress on the first syllable. The adjective ignominious moves the stress to the third syllable, ig-nuh-MIN-ee-uhs.
Is ignominy related to ignorance?
No. Ignominy comes from the Latin nomen, meaning name or reputation, so it literally means loss of good name. Ignorance comes from ignorare, to not know, and the resemblance is only in the first two syllables.
