Definition of IGNOMINIOUS (original) (raw)

: marked with or characterized by disgrace or shame : dishonorable

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The "-nom-" of "ignominious" comes from "nomen," the Latin word for "name" or "repute." (It's also the root of "misnomer," "nomenclature," and "nominal," among others.) The "ig-" part of the word is akin to the negative prefix in-; when joined to the root "-nom-," it indicates the namelessness that goes with shame or dishonor. To suffer an ignominious fate is to lose the opportunity to make a name for oneself or to lose one's good name. When "ignominious" was first borrowed from a French form of the word in the 15th century, it meant "disgraced" or "dishonorable." "Ignominious" continues to have such meanings, but it also has somewhat milder meanings - "embarrassing" and "humiliating."

Synonyms

Examples of ignominious in a Sentence

some of his friends considered the low-level job to be an ignominious fate for the laid-off executive the prison guards degraded themselves with their inhumane, ignominious treatment of the prisoners

Recent Examples on the Web

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The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets head into Week 18 on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum, with Miami desperate for a postseason shot and the Jets seemingly eager to end their ignominious season. —J.j. Bailey, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025 Carter’s genuine passion for music provided him an avenue of association with his colleagues and constituents alike, which became an important soft-power tool in the wake of Richard Nixon’s ignominious administration. —Allison Hussey, Pitchfork, 29 Dec. 2024 The record seasons coincided with what is known as baseball's ignominious Steroid Era. —Kerry J. Byrne Fox News, Fox News, 30 Sep. 2024 Two years ago, Altuve led the league in that ignominious category. —Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 28 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ignominious