infamous
/ˈɪn.fə.məs/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.75 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Having a bad reputation; disreputable; notorious; unpleasant or evil; widely known, especially for something scornful.
adj
Example Sentences
- "He was an infamous traitor."
- "She is infamous for perjury."
- "Soon we arrived at the Beijing Hotel—within shouting distance of the now infamous Tienanmen Square."
- "These infamous little green men appeared during the decisive seizures or buildings and facilities, only to disappear when associated militias and local troops arrived to consolidate the gains. In this way they provided a measure of deniability—however superficial or implausible—for Moscow.⁴⁰"
- "Despite the line proving to be a useful strategic route for men and supplies to the British naval fleets stationed at Scapa Flow in both world wars, the Duke's legacy looked to have passed into history when it was listed for closure in the infamous Beeching report."
- "This infamous deed tarnishes all involved."
Etymology
From Middle English enfamouse, in-fames, infamous, from Medieval Latin īnfāmōsus, from Latin īnfāmis; by surface analysis, in- + famous. Displaced native Old English unhlīsful.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: enfamouse, īnfāmōsus, īnfāmis
Usage
Inflected Forms
more infamous (comparative)
most infamous (superlative)