infamous

UK: /ˈɪnfəməs/ US: /ˈɪnfəməs/ ,(in′fə məs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•fa•mous /ˈɪnfəməs/   adj. 

1. of or relating to infamy:
   infamous for the disgraceful way he treated women.
2. deserving of or causing an evil reputation:
   an infamous deed.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•fa•mous  (in′fə məs), adj. 

1. having an extremely bad reputation:
   an infamous city.
2. deserving of or causing an evil reputation;
   shamefully malign;
   detestable:
   an infamous deed.
3. Law
   • deprived of certain rights as a citizen, as a consequence of conviction of certain offenses.
   • of or pertaining to offenses involving such deprivation.

• Latin infām(is) (see infamy) + -ous
• Middle English 1350–1400

in′fa•mous•ly, adv. 
in′fa•mous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. disreputable, ill-famed, notorious.
• 2. disgraceful, scandalous; nefarious, odious, wicked, shocking, vile, base, heinous, villainous.

Antonyms

• 1. reputable.
• 2. praiseworthy, admirable.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

infamous / ˈɪnfəməs/ adjective

1. having a bad reputation; notorious
2. causing or deserving a bad reputation; shocking: infamous conduct

ˈinfamously adverb

ˈinfamousness noun