infamy

noun

ˈin-fə-mē How to pronounce infamy (audio)
Definition of infamynext
as in disgrace
the state of having lost the esteem of others despite her eventual pardons, she could never completely free herself of the infamy of being named a war criminal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the noun infamy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of infamy are disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, and ignominy. While all these words mean "the state or condition of suffering loss of esteem and of enduring reproach," infamy usually implies notoriety as well as exceeding shame.

a day that lives in infamy

When can disgrace be used instead of infamy?

The words disgrace and infamy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disgrace often implies humiliation and sometimes ostracism.

sent home in disgrace

In what contexts can dishonor take the place of infamy?

In some situations, the words dishonor and infamy are roughly equivalent. However, dishonor emphasizes the loss of honor that one has enjoyed or the loss of self-esteem.

preferred death to life with dishonor

When is it sensible to use disrepute instead of infamy?

Although the words disrepute and infamy have much in common, disrepute stresses loss of one's good name or the acquiring of a bad reputation.

a once proud name fallen into disrepute

When would ignominy be a good substitute for infamy?

The words ignominy and infamy can be used in similar contexts, but ignominy stresses humiliation.

the ignominy of being arrested

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of infamy Spencer Pratt, the reality star people love to hate-watch, is running for office—and betting that infamy can be political currency. — Louis Staples, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026 On the morning of a day that would live in girls' sports infamy, a letter was handed out to coaches who entered a championship track and field meet at Moorpark High School. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026 The own-goal came when Aiden O’Neill took a free kick from left of the penalty area and Hany headed the ball past goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir for a spot in World Cup infamy. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 Claudine Longet, the French-American chanteuse whose first fame in music, on TV and as the wife of singing star Andy Williams was dwarfed by infamy after her fatal shooting of the Olympic skier Spider Sabich in 1976, has died. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for infamy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infamy
  1. disgrace
  2. shame
Noun
  • The man who’d held the presidency before Gerald Ford had resigned in disgrace two years earlier.
    — Lynn Schmidt, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • Well, its’ interesting because for many years the Republican Party revered Reagan much more than Nixon, partly because Reagan was a successful president and Nixon, of course, ended his presidency in disgrace.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 June 2026
Definition of disgrace
Noun
  • With wonder and with great shame the yodel is an orphaned sound, a sound that turns the serenade toward an addressee that is destined to never hear it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • Altitude is going to be a leveller, just a shame there are no West Bromwich Albion players in the England squad.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of shame

Browse Nearby Words

infamous
infamy
infancies
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Cite this Entry

“Infamy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infamy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on infamy

Nglish: Translation of infamy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about infamy

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