ignominious

IPA/ˌɪɡnəˈmɪniəs/
KK[ˌɪɡnəmˈɪniəs]IPA/ˌɪɡnəˈmɪniəs/

ignominious — adjective

  • ignominiouspositive
  • more ignominiouscomparative
  • most ignominioussuperlative

1. describes an event or outcome that is so completely unsuccessful that the people

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes an event or outcome that is so completely unsuccessful that the people involved feel deeply embarrassed and humiliated

Example

Maja's climb of the mountain ended in ignominious failure when a storm forced her back.

collocation: ignominious failure

The company's new watch was an ignominious disaster, selling fewer than fifty units.

collocation: ignominious disaster

Common collocations
  • ignominious defeat
  • ignominious failure
  • ignominious end
  • ignominious exit
  • ignominious collapse
Synonyms
  • humiliating

    focuses on the feeling of wounded pride, slightly less formal

  • shameful

    broader in application, can overlap with sense 2

  • degrading

    emphasises loss of dignity or self-respect

Antonyms
  • glorious

    the opposite of a shameful public outcome

  • triumphant

    describes a victorious, celebrated result

Grammar Patterns

ignominious + noun (defeat, failure, end, exit)

Usage Note

Commonly pairs with nouns describing outcomes such as defeat, failure, end, exit, or collapse. Less frequently used predicatively (e.g. 'the result was ignominious').

Common Mistakes

I felt ignominious after making a small mistake at work.
I felt embarrassed after making a small mistake at work.
ignominious is far too strong for minor social embarrassment; it implies a major public failure with lasting shame.

2. describes actions or character that are so morally wrong that they rightly cause

2.adjectiveC2
Definition

describes actions or character that are so morally wrong that they rightly cause public shame and dishonour

Example

The mayor's ignominious behaviour shocked voters after the stolen money was discovered.

attributive: ignominious + noun of conduct

The officer was sent home for ignominious conduct towards the prisoners in his care.

collocation: ignominious conduct

Common collocations
  • ignominious behaviour
  • ignominious conduct
  • ignominious treatment
  • ignominious act
  • ignominious lies
Synonyms
  • disgraceful

    more common in everyday use, same core meaning

  • dishonourable

    British spelling; emphasises broken codes of honour

  • despicable

    focuses on the contempt that others rightly feel

  • contemptible

    slightly stronger moral judgement, literary tone

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

ignominious + noun (behaviour, conduct, act, treatment, lies)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 focuses on moral depravity of a person or their conduct, not on the failure of an event. Use sense 2 when the emphasis is on moral condemnation rather than failed outcome.

Common Mistakes

He lost the game in an ignominious way.
He was punished for his ignominious treatment of the younger students.
losing a game fits sense 1 (failed outcome); immoral treatment of others fits sense 2 (moral condemnation).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe unpleasant experiences that hurt one's self-respect, but they differ in intensity and scope. Embarrassing is the mildest and most general — it covers any awkward social moment, from spilling a drink to tripping on stage. Humiliating is stronger, implying a wound to one's public dignity, often witnessed by others. Shameful adds moral weight: a shameful act is one the person ought to feel bad about. Degrading focuses on loss of human dignity, suggesting a lowering of one's status or self-worth. Ignominious sits at the top of this scale — it is reserved for total, public failures that bring lasting disgrace. For example, forgetting a speech is embarrassing; being laughed off stage is humiliating; cheating to win is shameful; being forced to clean floors as punishment is degrading; losing an election by the largest margin in history is ignominious.

humiliating ↗shameful ↗degrading ↗embarrassing ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • utterly ignominious
  • deeply ignominious
  • somewhat ignominious

Phrases

  • ignominious end to
  • in ignominious circumstances

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Ignominious comes from Latin ignominiosus, from ignominia meaning 'loss of one's good name' or 'disgrace'. The word breaks down as ig- (a variant of in- 'not') plus nomen 'name, reputation'. So at its root, ignominious describes someone who no longer has a good reputation. The word entered English in the 15th century through French ignominieux, and has kept its strong sense of public shame ever since.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2