infamous

/'infəməs/

Thân thiện

The infamous pirate's flag flew from the ship's mast.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Well-known for a bad quality or deed; having an extremely bad reputation: Describes a person, place, or thing that is famous for being evil, criminal, or morally reprehensible.
   • (Historical/Legal) Deprived of certain rights as a consequence of conviction for a serious crime: In older legal contexts, it described a person who had lost their legal standing or citizen rights due to an infamous crime.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The dictator is infamous for his human rights abuses.
  • That bridge is infamous for its dangerous traffic accidents.
  • In the 18th century, a person convicted of treason was declared infamous and lost the right to testify in court.

Advanced Usage

• "Infamous for": This is the most common construction, used to specify the reason for the bad reputation.
  • The city became infamous for its corruption.
• "The infamous [noun]": Used to label a specific person or thing that is notoriously bad.
  • We finally visited the infamous haunted house on the hill.

Variants and Related Words

• Infamy (noun): The state of being infamous; extreme public disgrace.
  • His name is synonymous with infamy.
• Notorious (adjective): A close synonym, also meaning famous for something bad. "Infamous" can sometimes carry a stronger connotation of moral outrage.
  • The notorious pirate terrorized the coast.

Synonyms

• Notorious: Widely and unfavorably known.
• Disreputable: Not considered to be respectable in character or appearance.
• Ill-famed: Having a bad reputation.

Antonyms

• Famous: Known about by many people for positive reasons.
• Reputable: Having a good reputation.
• Esteemed: Held in great respect; admired.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "A day that will live in infamy": A famous phrase from a speech by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt about the attack on Pearl Harbor, meaning a day that will be remembered for its terrible nature.
  • The terrorist attack was a day that will live in infamy.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. known widely and usually unfavorably;
   • a notorious gangster
   • the tenderloin district was notorious for vice
   • the infamous Benedict Arnold

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ill-famed
• notorious