Finding a synonym for infamous can be surprisingly difficult because the word combines two ideas: being widely known and being known for something bad. The closest replacement is usually notorious, while words such as ill-famed, disreputable, shameful, scandalous, and nefarious overlap with only part of the meaning. Choosing the right alternative depends on whether you want to emphasize someone’s bad reputation, immoral behavior, public notoriety, or the seriousness of what they did.
Quick Answer: What Are the Best Synonyms for Infamous?
The closest synonyms for infamous are notorious and ill-famed. Other alternatives include disreputable, dishonorable, shameful, disgraceful, scandalous, nefarious, villainous, vile, and ignominious, but these are not interchangeable in every context. Notorious is best when someone or something is widely known for something bad; disreputable focuses on a poor reputation, while shameful emphasizes conduct deserving shame.
Core Synonyms for Infamous
| Word | Relationship | Meaning | Strength | Best Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| notorious | Direct synonym | Widely known for something bad | Similar | People, places, events, behavior |
| ill-famed | Direct/near synonym | Known for a bad reputation | Similar | People, places, institutions |
| of ill repute | Near synonym | Having a seriously bad reputation | Similar | People, businesses, places |
| disreputable | Near synonym | Having a poor or dishonorable reputation | Similar | People, businesses, organizations |
| dishonorable | Contextual alternative | Not deserving respect or honor | Strong | Actions, conduct, people |
| shameful | Contextual alternative | Deserving shame or disgrace | Strong | Behavior, actions, events |
| disgraceful | Contextual alternative | Bringing shame or dishonor | Strong | Conduct, treatment, behavior |
| scandalous | Contextual alternative | Causing public outrage or shock | Strong | Conduct, events, revelations |
| ignominious | Contextual alternative | Bringing public shame or humiliation | Strong/formal | Defeats, endings, actions |
| nefarious | Contextual alternative | Wicked or criminal | Strong | Schemes, activities, deeds |
| villainous | Contextual alternative | Characteristic of a villain | Strong | People, actions, behavior |
| vile | Contextual alternative | Extremely unpleasant or morally bad | Very strong | Acts, behavior, people |
| heinous | Contextual alternative | Shockingly evil or wicked | Very strong | Crimes, acts |
| despicable | Contextual alternative | Deserving contempt | Strong | People, actions, behavior |
| odious | Contextual alternative | Extremely hateful or offensive | Strong/formal | People, conduct, ideas |
| corrupt | Contextual alternative | Dishonest or morally compromised | Context-dependent | Officials, institutions, systems |
| notorious for | Phrase-level alternative | Known widely for something negative | Similar | People, places, organizations |
| having a bad reputation | Plain-language alternative | Known negatively by others | Neutral | General writing |
| shamefully bad | Contextual alternative | Extremely bad in a morally objectionable way | Strong | Conduct, actions |
| infamous for | Original construction | Known for something considered bad | — | General |
The important point is that these words do not all mean exactly the same thing. Merriam-Webster’s thesaurus, for example, lists notorious alongside words including disgraceful, disreputable, dishonorable, nefarious, vile, and despicable, but those words emphasize different aspects of negative reputation or conduct.
What Does “Infamous” Mean?
Infamous is an adjective describing someone or something that is famous or widely known for something bad, harmful, or evil.
For example:
The criminal became infamous for his violent crimes.
The company became infamous for its poor treatment of workers.
The city was once infamous for its high crime rate.
Cambridge defines infamous as being famous for something considered bad, while Oxford defines it as being well known for being bad or evil. Both dictionaries give notorious as the closest synonym.
Pronunciation
US: /ˈɪn.fə.məs/
UK: /ˈɪn.fə.məs/
Word Form
infamous — adjective
infamy — noun
infamously — adverb
1. Notorious
Notorious is the closest and most natural synonym for infamous.
Both words describe someone or something that is widely known for something negative.
The dictator was infamous for his brutality.
The dictator was notorious for his brutality.
Both sentences are natural.
Best use
Choose notorious when you want to emphasize widespread negative recognition.
Common combinations include:
- notorious criminal
- notorious gangster
- notorious dictator
- notorious killer
- notorious reputation
- notorious behavior
- notorious incident
Cambridge explicitly gives notorious as the synonym of infamous, and Oxford does the same.
Verdict: ⭐ Best direct replacement.
2. Ill-Famed
Ill-famed means having a bad reputation or being known negatively.
The pirate became ill-famed throughout the region.
It is semantically close to infamous, but it is considerably less common in everyday modern American English.
Best use
Use it when you want a literary, descriptive, or somewhat old-fashioned tone.
Verdict: Very close in meaning, but less common than notorious.
3. Of Ill Repute
Of ill repute is a formal phrase meaning having a bad reputation.
The establishment was of ill repute.
It focuses strongly on reputation but does not necessarily imply that the subject is famous or widely known.
Compare
an infamous criminal
suggests a criminal who is widely known for bad actions.
a criminal of ill repute
simply emphasizes the person’s poor reputation.
Verdict: Excellent contextual alternative when reputation is the focus.
4. Disreputable
Disreputable means having a bad reputation or being considered untrustworthy, dishonest, or socially unacceptable.
He had connections with several disreputable businesses.
Unlike infamous, disreputable does not require widespread fame.
A little-known dishonest business can be disreputable without being infamous.
Verdict: Strong synonym when reputation matters more than notoriety.
5. Dishonorable
Dishonorable describes behavior, actions, or people that lack honor or deserve moral disapproval.
The politician was accused of dishonorable conduct.
It is not a direct replacement for infamous because something can be dishonorable without being famous.
Verdict: Focuses on lack of honor rather than public notoriety.
6. Shameful
Shameful means deserving shame or embarrassment because something is morally wrong or unacceptable.
The company was criticized for its shameful treatment of employees.
You would not normally replace every use of infamous with shameful.
Compare:
an infamous criminal
versus:
a shameful act
The first emphasizes notoriety; the second emphasizes moral judgment.
Verdict: Useful when the negative behavior itself is the focus.
7. Disgraceful
Disgraceful describes something that causes or deserves disgrace.
The officials were condemned for their disgraceful behavior.
Like shameful, it describes the quality of the conduct, not necessarily the person’s public fame.
Verdict: Strong contextual alternative for behavior and actions.
8. Scandalous
Scandalous describes something that causes public shock, outrage, or disapproval.
The politician’s scandalous behavior dominated the news.
It can overlap with infamous when something becomes widely known because of a scandal.
However:
a scandalous decision
does not necessarily mean a widely famous decision.
Verdict: Best when public controversy or outrage is important.
9. Ignominious
Ignominious is a formal word meaning bringing shame, disgrace, or humiliation.
The team suffered an ignominious defeat.
It is especially useful for:
- defeats
- failures
- endings
- departures
- actions involving humiliation
It is not a general replacement for infamous.
Verdict: Strong, formal alternative when disgrace or humiliation is central.
10. Nefarious
Nefarious means extremely wicked or criminal.
The organization was accused of carrying out nefarious activities.
It does not inherently mean famous or widely known.
Therefore:
an infamous criminal
and
a nefarious criminal
are not identical.
The first emphasizes the criminal’s notoriety; the second emphasizes the criminal’s wickedness.
Verdict: Strong contextual alternative for evil or criminal activity.
11. Villainous
Villainous means characteristic of a villain or extremely wicked.
The character was known for his villainous behavior.
It works especially well when describing:
- behavior
- characters
- actions
- motives
Verdict: Useful when the emphasis is on wicked character or conduct.
12. Vile
Vile means extremely unpleasant, morally bad, or deserving contempt.
The investigation uncovered vile acts of cruelty.
It is considerably stronger in emotional judgment than infamous.
Someone can be infamous without every action being described as vile.
Verdict: Stronger and more emotionally charged.
13. Heinous
Heinous means extremely evil or shockingly wicked.
It is particularly common with serious crimes:
- heinous crime
- heinous act
- heinous murder
- heinous offense
The court condemned the heinous crime.
Heinous does not mean famous or notorious.
Verdict: Use it for extreme moral evil, especially serious crimes.
14. Despicable
Despicable means deserving strong dislike or contempt.
His despicable behavior shocked the community.
Again, the emphasis is on contempt, not fame.
Verdict: Strong contextual alternative for morally contemptible conduct.
15. Odious
Odious means extremely unpleasant, hateful, or offensive.
The regime became associated with an odious system of discrimination.
It is more formal and literary than many everyday alternatives.
Verdict: Useful for formal writing when emphasizing strong dislike or offensiveness.
Which Word Should I Use?
The easiest way to choose the right synonym is to identify what aspect of “infamous” you want to preserve.
Choose “notorious” when:
The person or thing is widely known for something bad.
a notorious criminal
Choose “ill-famed” when:
You want a close, literary alternative emphasizing a bad reputation.
an ill-famed ruler
Choose “disreputable” when:
The main idea is a bad reputation, not widespread fame.
a disreputable business
Choose “shameful” when:
The emphasis is on conduct that deserves shame.
shameful behavior
Choose “disgraceful” when:
Something brings dishonor or disgrace.
disgraceful treatment
Choose “scandalous” when:
The action causes public outrage or controversy.
a scandalous decision
Choose “nefarious” when:
You want to emphasize wicked or criminal activity.
a nefarious scheme
Choose “heinous” when:
You are describing something exceptionally evil, especially a serious crime.
a heinous crime
Choose “vile” when:
You want strong emotional condemnation.
vile conduct
Infamous vs. Notorious
This is the most important comparison on the page.
Infamous and notorious are extremely close because both can describe someone or something widely known for negative reasons. Cambridge and Oxford both identify notorious as the synonym of infamous.
| Infamous | Notorious |
|---|---|
| Famous for something bad | Widely known for something bad |
| Often formal | Neutral and very common |
| Can describe people, places, events, things | Same |
| Strong negative association | Strong negative association |
Examples
The prison became infamous for its brutal conditions.
The prison became notorious for its brutal conditions.
Both are natural.
Best choice: In most ordinary writing, notorious is the easiest direct substitute.
Infamous vs. Disreputable
These words overlap but focus on different ideas.
Infamous = bad + widely known.
Disreputable = bad reputation, without necessarily being widely known.
an infamous gangster
The gangster is widely known for criminal behavior.
a disreputable businessman
The businessman has a bad reputation, but he may not be famous at all.
Key distinction: notoriety vs. reputation.
Infamous vs. Shameful
Infamous describes a reputation for bad things.
Shameful describes something deserving shame.
an infamous politician
focuses on the politician’s public reputation.
shameful behavior
focuses on the behavior itself.
This is an important distinction for writers because replacing infamous with shameful can remove the idea of public recognition.
Infamous vs. Scandalous
Infamous means known for something bad.
Scandalous means shocking, outrageous, or likely to cause public disapproval.
an infamous criminal
a scandalous affair
The criminal is known for bad behavior; the affair is characterized by scandal.
Something can be scandalous without becoming infamous.
Infamous vs. Nefarious
Infamous emphasizes notoriety.
Nefarious emphasizes wickedness.
an infamous criminal
= a criminal widely known for bad actions.
a nefarious scheme
= a wicked or criminal scheme.
This makes nefarious a contextual alternative rather than a direct synonym.
Common Collocations With “Infamous”
The following combinations are particularly useful for understanding how infamous naturally works:
- infamous criminal
- infamous killer
- infamous gangster
- infamous dictator
- infamous politician
- infamous incident
- infamous event
- infamous reputation
- infamous behavior
- infamous crime
- infamous decision
- infamous place
- infamous case
- infamous history
- infamous nickname
- infamous for violence
- infamous for corruption
- infamous for brutality
- infamous for its unreliability
Cambridge’s usage examples show infamous being used with people, places, problems, systems, and things known negatively; its dedicated “infamous for” entry also demonstrates the construction with behaviors and characteristics.
Oxford’s collocation information includes nouns such as incident, murderer, and reputation.
Common Mistakes When Choosing a Synonym
1. Assuming “famous” is a synonym
Famous means widely known, usually without saying whether that recognition is positive or negative.
a famous actor
an infamous criminal
The second carries a clearly negative association.
Cambridge specifically contrasts infamous with famous.
2. Treating “evil” as an exact synonym
Someone can be evil without being famous.
an evil dictator
focuses on morality.
an infamous dictator
focuses on negative notoriety.
3. Treating “nefarious” as a perfect replacement
Nefarious describes wicked or criminal activity. It does not necessarily imply widespread recognition.
4. Using “shameful” when notoriety matters
an infamous historical figure
cannot always become:
a shameful historical figure
The second expression changes the meaning and sounds less natural.
5. Assuming every thesaurus entry is interchangeable
Large thesauri can contain direct synonyms, near-synonyms, and words that merely describe related negative qualities. Cambridge’s thesaurus illustrates this breadth by listing both notorious and much stronger moral terms such as vile, heinous, nefarious, and wicked.
Antonyms of Infamous
The best antonym depends on which part of the meaning you want to reverse.
Direct reputation-based contrasts
- reputable
- respected
- honorable
- well-regarded
- esteemed
Fame-based contrast
- unknown
- obscure
- unrecognized
For example:
an infamous organization
could contrast with:
a reputable organization
when the focus is reputation.
Merriam-Webster and Cambridge both list positive reputation terms among the antonyms or contrasting vocabulary associated with infamous.
Etymology of “Infamous”
Infamous entered English through Middle English from Medieval Latin infamosus, ultimately related to Latin infamis, meaning disreputable or of bad repute. Oxford traces the word to this Latin family and connects it with fama, meaning “fame.”
This history helps explain the word’s structure: infamous is essentially associated with fame of a bad kind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest synonym for infamous?
Notorious is the closest and most widely useful synonym for infamous. Both describe someone or something that is widely known because of negative behavior, characteristics, or events. Oxford and Cambridge both identify notorious as a synonym of infamous.
What is another word for infamous?
Depending on context, alternatives include notorious, ill-famed, disreputable, of ill repute, shameful, disgraceful, scandalous, nefarious, and ignominious. However, only notorious and ill-famed preserve the core idea of negative notoriety particularly closely.
Is notorious the same as infamous?
In many sentences, yes. Notorious and infamous both describe someone or something widely known for something bad. Notorious is generally the more straightforward everyday choice, while infamous can have a somewhat more formal or emphatic tone.
Is infamous a negative word?
Yes. Infamous normally carries a negative meaning because it describes being well known for something bad. It should not normally be confused with the neutral or positive word famous.
What is a formal synonym for infamous?
Notorious is the best general replacement. Ill-famed and ignominious can work in more formal or literary contexts, but their meanings differ: ill-famed focuses on bad reputation, while ignominious focuses on disgrace or humiliation.
What is a synonym for an infamous person?
For a person who is widely known for bad behavior, notorious is usually the best choice:
an infamous criminal → a notorious criminal
Other possibilities include disreputable person, dishonorable person, villainous figure, or ill-famed figure, depending on what aspect of the person’s reputation you want to emphasize.
What is the difference between infamous and disreputable?
Infamous emphasizes being widely known for something bad, whereas disreputable emphasizes having a poor reputation. A person or company can be disreputable without being famous or widely recognized.
Final Takeaway
The best synonym for infamous is usually notorious because both words describe something widely known for negative reasons.
For more specific meanings, choose ill-famed for a bad reputation, disreputable for questionable reputation, shameful or disgraceful for conduct deserving condemnation, scandalous for public outrage, and nefarious for wicked or criminal activity.
The most important rule is simple:
Infamous is not merely “bad.” It is “bad and well known.”
That distinction is what separates a precise synonym from a merely related negative word.
