inglorious

IPA/ɪnˈɡlɔːriəs/
KK[ˌɪnɡlˈɔriəs]IPA/ɪnˈɡlɔːriəs/

inglorious — adjective

  • ingloriouspositive
  • more ingloriouscomparative
  • most inglorioussuperlative

1. describing an action or event that is so unfair or dishonest that people lose re

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing an action or event that is so unfair or dishonest that people lose respect for the person or group responsible for it

Example

The company's inglorious treatment of its workers sparked a public protest.

collocation: inglorious treatment

Hassan was fired for his inglorious attempt to cheat during the final exam.

Common collocations
  • inglorious treatment
  • inglorious retreat
  • inglorious secrets
  • inglorious conduct
  • inglorious episode
Synonyms
  • shameful

    more common and broader; can describe both actions and feelings

  • dishonorable

    focuses on violation of moral principles or codes of conduct

  • ignominious

    suggests public humiliation and loss of reputation, especially after a failure

  • disgraceful

    emphasizes the loss of respect from others

Antonyms
  • honorable

    describes actions that earn respect and admiration

  • praiseworthy

    describes conduct that deserves approval and applause

Grammar Patterns

inglorious + noun

be + inglorious

Usage Note

Commonly used with nouns describing actions or treatment (retreat, conduct, treatment, episode). Typically describes public or institutional behavior rather than private feelings.

Common Mistakes

He felt inglorious after making the mistake.
He felt ashamed after making the mistake.
'inglorious' describes actions or events, not a person's emotional state.
She told an inglorious lie.
She told a shameful lie.
'inglorious' is typically used for public or consequential actions, not everyday dishonest acts.

2. without any quality or achievement that would make someone or something admired

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

without any quality or achievement that would make someone or something admired or remembered by others

Example

After two inglorious seasons, the baseball team quietly disbanded without any ceremony.

Vikram's acting career ended in an inglorious failure when the theater closed down.

collocation: inglorious failure

Common collocations
  • inglorious death
  • inglorious failure
  • inglorious end
  • inglorious career
  • inglorious season
Synonyms
  • obscure

    more common; suggests being unknown or hard to notice

  • undistinguished

    emphasizes lack of notable achievement

  • unremarkable

    neutral; simply means nothing special stands out

Antonyms
  • glorious

    describes something that brings fame and admiration

  • illustrious

    suggests lasting fame and achievement

Grammar Patterns

inglorious + noun

be + inglorious

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (DISHONORABLE): this sense carries no moral judgment — it simply means lacking fame or distinction. Often describes careers, endings, or outcomes that fail to attract notice.

Common Mistakes

The restaurant served an inglorious meal.
The restaurant served an unremarkable meal.
'inglorious' refers to lack of honor or fame, not everyday quality.

Word family

  • ingloriously
    adverbC1
  • ingloriousness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe actions that damage a person's reputation, but they differ in emphasis. 'Shameful' is the broadest and most common word, covering any action that causes a feeling of shame, from a private secret to a public scandal. 'Disgraceful' is stronger and implies that the action has caused a public loss of respect, often used for failures in duty or responsibility. 'Dishonorable' specifically describes behavior that breaks a code of integrity or ethics, such as lying under oath or betraying a promise. 'Ignominious' is the closest to 'inglorious' and suggests a humiliating public failure that invites contempt — an ignominious defeat in battle, for instance. While 'shameful' can be used for personal matters ('a shameful family secret'), 'ignominious' almost always involves a public audience and a loss of standing in the eyes of others.

shameful ↗disgraceful ↗dishonorable ↗ignominious ↗

Etymology

LatinEnglish

'Inglorious' comes from Latin 'ingloriosus', made up of the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'gloria' meaning 'glory, fame.' It entered English directly from Latin in the mid-1500s, originally meaning simply 'without fame or renown.' Over time the word developed a stronger meaning of 'shameful' or 'disgraceful,' as lacking glory came to imply active dishonor.