Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Characterized by or deserving shame or disgrace.
  • adjective Degrading; debasing.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Marked with ignominy; incurring or attended with disgrace; degrading; shameful; infamous: as, ignominious punishment; ignominious intrigues.
  • Deserving ignominy; despicable in character; contemptible.
  • Synonyms Disgraceful, opprobrious, disreputable. See ignominy.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Marked with ignominy; incurring public disgrace; dishonorable; shameful.
  • adjective Deserving ignominy; despicable.
  • adjective Humiliating; degrading.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Marked by shame or disgrace.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French or Old French ignominieux, from Latin ignominiosus ("disgraceful"), from ignominia ("loss of a good name, ignominy"), from in- (“not”) +‎ nomen (“name”).

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Examples

  • The vast majority of Survivors who have scored the hidden immunity idol went on to slink out of there in ignominious defeat for not having played it.

    'Survivor' preview: Too soon for a merge? | EW.com 2009

  • The team dispersed in ignominious defeat, and it was not until after dark that the dogs came sneaking back, one by one, by meekness and humility signifying their fealty to White Fang.

    The Love-Master 2010

  • In that monster footnote to what I am inclined to describe as a monster book – The God Delusion – Dawkins reproaches me for what he calls my ignominious decision to accept, in 2006, the Phillip E. Johnson Award for Liberty and Truth.

    The insincerity of Richard Dawkins « Anglican Samizdat 2009

  • And with this developing in ignominious as well as PageRank you can save in perspective to apprehend your background in culminate unambiguous exhilarated in those Search Locomotive Results.

    Your Right Hand Thief 2007

  • What, for instance, might have happened to the world a short time back if Egypt had had the atomic weapon when being chased, in ignominious retreat, from the borders of Israel?

    The Berlin Crisis 1959

  • The team dispersed in ignominious defeat, and it was not until after dark that the dogs came sneaking back, one by one, by meekness and humility signifying their fealty to White

    The Love-Master 1906

  • Many rulings of this same court might well qualify for the tag ignominious if it's history we be reviewing.

    Latest Articles 2009

  • His wife and infant son were detained by the Romans in ignominious captivity; and this domestic misfortune tarnished the glories of

    The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206

  • Senators, matrons, and philosophers, expired in ignominious and cruel tortures.

    The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206

  • 91 The light brigantines of the Greeks were scattered in ignominious flight: the nine castles of the Venetians maintained a more obstinate conflict; seven were sunk, two were taken; two thousand five hundred captives implored in vain the mercy of the victor; and the daughter of Alexius deplores the loss of thirteen thousand of his subjects or allies.

    The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206

Comments

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  • Disgraceful or dishonorable behavior, as of a candidate for a political office who, upon losing public favor, makes wild and desperate claims to discredit the opposition.

    November 4, 2008

  • I find it interesting that this word came up right after Bonnie and Co. invaded again.

    November 4, 2008

  • JM has never considered garden figurines to be ignominious.

    August 13, 2011