notorious
8 synonyms and 8 antonyms for notorious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Famous or well known for something bad.
Synonyms
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 notorious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin notorius ("well-known, evident"), from Latin notus ("known"), the perfect participle of noscere ("to become acquainted with").
Full origin of notorious →Frequently asked questions
What does “notorious” mean?
The word “notorious” means famous or well known for something bad. In plain terms, well known, almost always for something bad or scandalous.
How do you pronounce “notorious”?
“Notorious” is pronounced nuh-TAW-rih-uhs (/nəˈtɔ.ɹi.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “notorious” in a sentence?
Here is “notorious” used in a sentence: “The city was notorious for its high crime rate.”
What is another word for “notorious”?
Words with a similar meaning to “notorious” include disreputable, ill-famed, infamous, nefarious, niddering and nidering.
What is the opposite of “notorious”?
The opposite of “notorious” — its antonyms — are unnotorious, unfamous, acclaimed, distinguished and celebrated.
What part of speech is “notorious”?
“Notorious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “notorious” come from?
The word “notorious” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin notorius ("well-known, evident"), from Latin notus ("known"), the perfect participle of noscere ("to become acquainted with").
Is “notorious” a common word?
“Notorious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between notorious and famous?
Notorious means famous or well known specifically for something bad, while famous is neutral and can apply to positive, negative, or unremarkable reasons for recognition. Calling someone notorious implies a negative reputation rather than simple public recognition.
What is the difference between notorious and infamous?
Notorious and infamous are close synonyms, both describing someone or something widely known for bad reasons, and they are often used interchangeably. Notorious can occasionally be used more neutrally to mean widely and clearly known, though this use is less common.
Can notorious ever be used in a positive way?
Notorious is occasionally used to mean simply widely and clearly known or obvious, a more neutral sense, but this use is far less common than its primary meaning of being famous for something bad. In most everyday use, calling something notorious carries a negative connotation.