Synonyms for Infamous: 15 Better Alternatives With Examples
Finding a good synonym for infamous is not simply a matter of choosing another negative word. The word infamous has a specific meaning: something or someone is widely known because of something bad, disgraceful, or shocking.
Therefore, words such as notorious, ill-famed, and disreputable can work in some contexts, while heinous, vile, or shameful emphasize the bad quality rather than the person’s or thing’s widespread notoriety.
The best synonym depends on what you want to emphasize: bad reputation, moral wrongdoing, public scandal, disgrace, or extreme wickedness.
Quick Answer: What Are the Best Synonyms for Infamous?
The closest synonyms for infamous are notorious and ill-famed. Other useful alternatives include disreputable, scandalous, disgraceful, shameful, dishonorable, ignominious, opprobrious, and notorious.
However, these words are not interchangeable in every sentence. For example, notorious emphasizes widespread negative fame, whereas heinous emphasizes the extreme wickedness of an act.
Core Synonym Resource
| Word | Relationship | Main Meaning | Strength | Formality | Best Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| notorious | Direct synonym | Famous for something bad | Similar | Neutral/Formal | People, places, events, problems |
| ill-famed | Direct synonym | Having a bad reputation | Similar | Formal/Literary | People, places, organizations |
| disreputable | Near synonym | Having a poor reputation | Moderate | Neutral/Formal | Businesses, people, places |
| scandalous | Near synonym | Causing public shock or outrage | Strong | Neutral/Formal | Behavior, events, decisions |
| disgraceful | Near synonym | Deserving shame or disapproval | Strong | Neutral/Formal | Conduct, actions, situations |
| shameful | Near synonym | Causing or deserving shame | Strong | Neutral | Behavior, actions, situations |
| dishonorable | Contextual alternative | Lacking moral or ethical honor | Strong | Formal | Conduct, decisions, actions |
| ignominious | Contextual alternative | Bringing humiliation or disgrace | Strong | Formal/Literary | Defeats, endings, failures |
| opprobrious | Contextual alternative | Expressing or deserving strong criticism | Strong | Formal | Conduct, remarks, actions |
| heinous | Contextual alternative | Extremely wicked or cruel | Very strong | Formal | Crimes, acts |
| vile | Contextual alternative | Extremely unpleasant or morally bad | Very strong | Neutral/Formal | People, acts, behavior |
| atrocious | Contextual alternative | Extremely bad, cruel, or shocking | Very strong | Neutral/Formal | Acts, conditions, treatment |
| abominable | Contextual alternative | Extremely bad or detestable | Very strong | Formal | Conduct, conditions, acts |
| villainous | Contextual alternative | Characteristic of a villain | Strong | Literary/Neutral | People, behavior, characters |
| nefarious | Contextual alternative | Wicked or criminal | Strong | Formal | Plans, activities, schemes |
These classifications matter because a thesaurus may group many related words together, even when their meanings differ. Collins, for example, lists notorious as the closest sense of infamous, while also presenting words such as disgraceful, heinous, shameful, and villainous under related senses.
What Does “Infamous” Mean?
Infamous is an adjective describing someone or something that is well known for a bad reason. It can refer to a person, place, event, action, problem, reputation, or practice.
For example:
- The criminal became infamous for his violent crimes.
- The company became infamous for its poor treatment of workers.
- The town was once infamous for corruption.
- The incident became infamous because of its shocking consequences.
Importantly, infamous does not simply mean “not famous.” Instead, it normally carries a negative association with fame or reputation. Merriam-Webster explicitly distinguishes infamous from the idea of being “not famous.”
The word is pronounced approximately /ˈɪn.fə.məs/ in both British and American English. Cambridge gives the same basic pronunciation pattern for both varieties.
The Closest Synonyms for Infamous
1. Notorious
Notorious is the strongest everyday replacement for infamous. Both describe someone or something that is widely known for a bad reason.
For example:
The area became infamous for violent crime.
can naturally become:
The area became notorious for violent crime.
Therefore, if you need a simple, natural synonym, notorious is usually the best choice. Cambridge specifically identifies notorious as a synonym of infamous.
Best for: people, places, events, organizations, problems, and behaviors.
2. Ill-Famed
Ill-famed means having a bad reputation or being poorly regarded. It is much closer to infamous than words such as heinous because it focuses on reputation.
For example:
The pirate was an infamous figure.
could become:
The pirate was an ill-famed figure.
However, ill-famed sounds more formal or literary than notorious. As a result, it is less common in everyday American English.
Best for: literary writing, historical descriptions, people, and places.
3. Disreputable
Disreputable means having a bad reputation or being regarded as untrustworthy or improper.
For example:
He was associated with an infamous organization.
could become:
He was associated with a disreputable organization.
The difference is important. Infamous emphasizes widespread negative fame, whereas disreputable emphasizes a poor reputation or lack of respectability.
Best for: businesses, organizations, people, places, and professions.
Contextual Alternatives
Not every useful alternative can replace infamous directly. However, some words become better choices when you want to emphasize a particular aspect of the meaning.
Scandalous
Use scandalous when something causes public outrage, embarrassment, or controversy.
The politician became infamous after the corruption scandal.
Better in some contexts:
The politician’s behavior was scandalous.
Here, scandalous focuses on the shocking or improper nature of the behavior rather than the politician’s resulting reputation.
Disgraceful
Use disgraceful when something deserves strong criticism or shame.
The organization became infamous for its treatment of employees.
You could say:
The organization’s treatment of employees was disgraceful.
The first sentence emphasizes its negative reputation. The second emphasizes that its conduct was shameful.
Shameful
Shameful describes something that causes or deserves shame.
The incident became infamous.
But:
The incident was shameful.
These sentences do not mean exactly the same thing. The first emphasizes notoriety; the second emphasizes moral judgment.
Dishonorable
Dishonorable is particularly useful when the focus is on a failure to meet moral, ethical, or honorable standards.
His infamous actions damaged his career.
Alternative:
His dishonorable actions damaged his career.
The second version emphasizes a violation of honor rather than public notoriety.
Ignominious
Ignominious is a formal word associated with humiliation, disgrace, or loss of honor.
It works especially well with words such as defeat, failure, end, and departure.
The leader suffered an ignominious defeat.
However, ignominious is not a universal replacement for infamous. It describes disgrace more directly than widespread bad fame.
Heinous
Heinous means extremely wicked or cruel. Therefore, it is especially appropriate for serious crimes or morally shocking actions.
The infamous crime shocked the nation.
can become:
The heinous crime shocked the nation.
Notice the difference: infamous tells us about the crime’s reputation; heinous tells us how morally terrible the crime was.
Vile
Vile describes something extremely unpleasant, wicked, or morally bad.
The infamous criminal was feared throughout the region.
could become:
The vile criminal was feared throughout the region.
However, the meanings shift. Infamous emphasizes reputation, while vile emphasizes character or moral quality.
Atrocious
Atrocious means extremely bad, cruel, or shocking.
For example:
The prisoners suffered atrocious treatment.
This is more natural than:
The prisoners suffered infamous treatment.
Therefore, atrocious is a contextual alternative, not a direct synonym.
Abominable
Abominable means extremely bad, unpleasant, or morally unacceptable.
For example:
The report described the abominable conditions in the facility.
Here, the word emphasizes the unacceptable quality of the conditions.
Villainous
Villainous means characteristic of a villain or morally wicked.
For example:
The novel features an infamous villain.
A more descriptive alternative is:
The novel features a villainous character.
Thus, villainous works especially well when describing fictional characters, behavior, or people portrayed as villains.
Nefarious
Nefarious means wicked or criminal, often describing plans, activities, schemes, or actions.
The infamous group was accused of illegal activities.
could become:
The group was accused of nefarious activities.
The second sentence focuses on the wicked or criminal nature of the activities, not their fame.
Which Word Should I Use?
The easiest way to choose is to identify what you want the sentence to emphasize.
Choose “notorious” when:
You mean widely known for something bad.
The city became notorious for organized crime.
Choose “ill-famed” when:
You want a more formal or literary expression for a bad reputation.
The ill-famed fortress stood on the edge of the valley.
Choose “disreputable” when:
You mean having a poor or untrustworthy reputation.
The company was known for its disreputable business practices.
Choose “scandalous” when:
You want to emphasize public shock, controversy, or outrage.
The scandalous decision attracted widespread criticism.
Choose “disgraceful” when:
You want to emphasize shame or serious disapproval.
The treatment of the workers was disgraceful.
Choose “heinous” when:
You want to emphasize extreme wickedness or cruelty.
The court condemned the heinous crime.
Choose “ignominious” when:
You want to emphasize humiliation or disgrace, especially after a failure.
The team suffered an ignominious defeat.
Infamous vs. Notorious
Infamous and notorious are the closest pair.
| Infamous | Notorious |
|---|---|
| Famous for a bad reason | Widely known for a bad reason |
| Strong negative reputation | Strong negative reputation |
| Common in formal and general writing | Very common in general English |
| Works with people, places, events, and things | Works with people, places, events, and things |
In most ordinary sentences, you can substitute one for the other without changing the central meaning.
For example:
The prison became infamous for its harsh conditions.
and:
The prison became notorious for its harsh conditions.
Both are natural.
Infamous vs. Disgraceful
These words overlap, but they emphasize different ideas.
Infamous = known widely for something bad.
Disgraceful = deserving shame or strong disapproval.
Compare:
The official became infamous for accepting bribes.
This emphasizes the official’s bad reputation.
Accepting bribes was disgraceful.
This emphasizes the moral wrongness of the action.
Therefore, use infamous for reputation and disgraceful for shameful conduct.
Infamous vs. Scandalous
Infamous focuses on negative fame.
Scandalous focuses on behavior or events that cause shock, outrage, or controversy.
For example:
The celebrity became infamous for repeated legal disputes.
The celebrity’s reputation is the focus.
However:
The celebrity’s behavior was scandalous.
The behavior itself is the focus.
Infamous vs. Heinous
These words are particularly easy to confuse.
Infamous means widely known for something bad.
Heinous means extremely wicked or cruel.
Therefore:
an infamous crime
means a crime that is notorious or widely known for a bad reason.
Meanwhile:
a heinous crime
means a crime that is exceptionally wicked or cruel.
A crime can be both infamous and heinous, but the words describe different characteristics.
Common Collocations With “Infamous”
Some combinations occur naturally in English.
Infamous + PeInfamous + Person
Common expressions that describe people include:
- infamous criminal
- infamous dictator
- infamous figure
- infamous villain
- infamous leader
Infamous + Event or Action
The adjective also appears before words associated with notable events or actions:
- infamous crime
- infamous incident
- infamous attack
- infamous scandal
- infamous decision
Infamous + Reputation or Place
When describing a location or its history, these combinations are also common:
- infamous reputation
- infamous history
- infamous location
- infamous prison
- infamous neighborhood
Using “Infamous For”
The construction “infamous for” introduces the reason a person, organization, or place has gained a negative reputation.
The company is infamous for poor customer service.
The mountain is infamous for dangerous conditions.
The website became infamous for misleading advertisements.
Cambridge also documents “infamous for something” and “infamous for doing something” as standard usage patterns.
Common Mistakes With “Infamous”
Mistake 1: Treating “infamous” as the opposite of “famous”
This is incorrect.
Infamous does not mean “unknown” or simply “not famous.” Instead, it normally means famous or widely known for something bad.
Mistake 2: Using “heinous” as a direct replacement everywhere
Heinous emphasizes extreme wickedness. Therefore, it is mainly suitable for serious acts, crimes, or behavior.
Mistake 3: Using “disgraceful” when reputation is the main idea
If you mean that a person is widely known because of something bad, notorious is usually more precise.
Mistake 4: Assuming every thesaurus entry is interchangeable
Words such as vile, atrocious, shameful, and nefarious may appear alongside infamous. However, they often describe the bad quality itself, rather than the resulting reputation.
Antonyms of Infamous
The best antonyms depend on the intended contrast.
If infamous means known for something bad, possible opposites include:
- famous — widely known without necessarily implying something bad
- renowned — widely admired or respected
- reputable — having a good reputation
- honorable — deserving respect
- respected — regarded positively by others
- well-regarded — viewed favorably
For example:
The company was infamous for poor service.
The opposite idea would be:
The company was renowned for excellent service.
FAQ About Synonyms for Infamous
What is the closest synonym for infamous?
Notorious is generally the closest everyday synonym for infamous. Both describe someone or something that is widely known for a bad reason. However, ill-famed is also very close in meaning, although it sounds more formal or literary.
Is notorious the same as infamous?
Yes, in many contexts. Both words describe negative fame or widespread recognition for something bad. However, neither word necessarily emphasizes the exact reason for the bad reputation. For that reason, context can still determine which sounds more natural.
What is a formal synonym for infamous?
Depending on the context, ill-famed, ignominious, opprobrious, or disreputable may work. However, these are not interchangeable in every sentence. For a direct formal alternative, ill-famed is especially close to infamous.
What is another word for an infamous person?
Notorious person, ill-famed person, or disreputable person can work. In ordinary English, however, notorious figure or notorious individual often sounds more natural than infamous person.
What is another word for an infamous event?
Depending on the meaning, use notorious, scandalous, disgraceful, or shameful. Use notorious when the event is widely known for a bad reason; use scandalous when the emphasis is on public outrage or controversy.
Is “heinous” a synonym for “infamous”?
Not exactly. The two words overlap in negative contexts, but they emphasize different qualities. Infamous concerns bad reputation or notoriety, whereas heinous describes something extremely wicked or cruel.
Is “disgraceful” a synonym for “infamous”?
It can be a contextual alternative, but it is not a perfect synonym. Disgraceful means deserving shame or strong disapproval. Infamous emphasizes being widely known for something bad.
Can infamous be positive?
In modern standard English, infamous normally carries a negative meaning. It is associated with a bad reputation, disgrace, or notoriety. Therefore, it should not normally be used simply to mean “very famous.”
Conclusion
The best synonym for infamous is usually notorious, because both words describe someone or something that is widely known for a bad reason. However, the best alternative changes with context.
Use ill-famed for a close formal equivalent, disreputable for a poor reputation, scandalous for public outrage, disgraceful or shameful for conduct deserving criticism, and heinous when extreme wickedness is the central idea.
Sophia Martinez is an ESL educator who specializes in teaching vocabulary and word meanings. She writes beginner-friendly content that helps learners understand synonyms and improve their English fluency step by step.
