Definition

Noun: 1. An act or situation that causes offense to one's dignity or self-respect; a humiliating or degrading treatment. It refers to treatment that makes someone feel ashamed, disrespected, or stripped of their basic human worth.

Usage

The word "indignity" is used to describe an experience or action that is deeply disrespectful and injurious to a person's pride. It often implies a loss of status or being forced into an undignified position. - It is typically used as a countable noun (e.g., suffer an indignity, the indignities of old age). - It is often found in formal or serious contexts discussing injustice, humiliation, or poor treatment.

Examples

• The prisoners were subjected to various indignities.
• She suffered the indignity of having her luggage searched in public.
• The indignity of losing his job in front of his colleagues was hard to bear.
• Poverty often brings with it many small indignities.

Advanced Usage

• To suffer/bear/endure an indignity: To experience a humiliating event.
  • He had to bear the indignity of apologizing for something he didn't do.
• The final/crowning/ultimate indignity: Used to describe the worst or last in a series of humiliating events.
  • After losing the match, the final indignity was having to shake his opponent's hand.

Variants and Related Words

• Indignation (noun): Anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment. (e.g., )
• Indignant (adjective): Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Humiliation: The action of humiliating someone or the state of being humiliated.
• Affront: An action or remark that causes outrage or offense.
• Insult: A disrespectful or scornfully abusive remark or action.
• Degradation: The condition or process of being degraded or humiliated.

Antonyms

• Honor: High respect; great esteem.
• Dignity: The state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.
• Respect: A feeling of deep admiration for someone elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

Idioms and Phrases

• To add insult to injury: To act in a way that makes a bad or displeasing situation even worse. This phrase is related as it describes compounding a problem with further indignity.
  • He was late, and to add insult to injury, he forgot the report.

Noun

1. an affront to one's dignity or self-esteem