indignity
gb/ɪndˈɪɡnəti/ us/ɪndˈɪɡnəti/
C1
English
megaláztatás, megalázó bánásmód, megalázottság, méltatlan állapot
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
the indignity of [situation]; suffer/endure an indignity; subject [someone] to indignities
He accepted the indignity of being searched in public to avoid missing his flight.
Elfogadta annak a megaláztatását, hogy nyilvánosan átkutassák, nehogy lekésse a járatát.
The policy forced patients to endure indignities that could easily have been prevented.
A szabályozás arra kényszerítette a betegeket, hogy olyan megaláztatásokat tűrjenek el, amelyeket könnyen el lehetett volna kerülni.
She refused to put up with the indignity of being spoken to like a child.
Learner examples
I felt an indignity when they laughed at me.
Megaláztatásként éltem meg, amikor kinevettek.
No one should suffer that kind of indignity.
Senkinek sem szabadna ilyen megaláztatást elszenvednie.
Common mistake:
Often confused with indignation (the feeling of anger about unfairness). Indignity is the humiliating experience or treatment.
Meaning
humiliating or insulting treatment
Collocations
the indignity of
|suffer an indignity
|endure indignities
|subject someone to indignities
|public indignity
|personal indignity
|added indignity
|avoidable indignity
|a sense of indignity
|to feel the indignity
Synonyms
humiliation (focuses on being made to feel ashamed.)
|
insult (can be less formal and may refer to words as well as treatment.)
|
affront (emphasizes a deliberate or serious insult.)
|
degradation (suggests lowering someone’s status or dignity in a harsh way.)
Antonyms
dignity (the state of being respected and valued.)
|
respect (polite, considerate treatment.)
|
honor (high respect or recognition of worth.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|society
Definition
an experience that makes you feel embarrassed or disrespected.
treatment that makes someone feel ashamed, insulted, or lacking respect.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
megaláztatás
B2
Usage pattern:
an indignity; a small/minor indignity; an added indignity
Being asked to prove her identity again felt like a needless indignity.
Felesleges megaláztatásnak érezte, hogy megint igazolnia kellett a személyazonosságát.
The coach’s comments were just one more indignity in a difficult season.
Az edző megjegyzései csak még egy megaláztatást jelentettek ebben a nehéz szezonban.
They laughed it off as a minor indignity and moved on.
Learner examples
Waiting outside in the rain was an added indignity.
Az esőben kint várakozni csak még egy megaláztatás volt.
That comment was an indignity.
Az a megjegyzés megaláztatás volt.
Common mistake:
In the singular, it usually means one particular humiliating incident; in the plural, it often means many such incidents over time.
Meaning
a humiliating act or incident
Collocations
a minor indignity
|a small indignity
|an added indignity
|a fresh indignity
|a further indignity
|a daily indignity
|a petty indignity
|one more indignity
|a series of indignities
|an unnecessary indignity
Synonyms
humiliation (more common; can refer to both the feeling and the event.)
|
slight (often a smaller, less serious insult.)
|
mortification (emphasizes intense embarrassment.)
Antonyms
compliment (a remark or act showing approval or admiration.)
|
courtesy (polite behavior that shows respect.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|society
Definition
one specific thing that makes you feel embarrassed or disrespected.
an action or incident that humiliates someone or treats them without proper respect.
NOUN
C2
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
sink/fall into indignity
He feared that accepting the deal would mean living in indignity for the rest of his life.
Attól félt, hogy ha elfogadja az alkut, élete végéig megalázottságban kell majd élnie.
Without support, many older people slip into poverty and indignity.
Támogatás nélkül sok idős ember szegénységbe és megalázottságba süllyed.
The memoir describes the slow descent into indignity after the scandal.
Common mistake:
Less common in everyday speech than the 'humiliating treatment/incident' senses; it can sound literary.
Meaning
state of being undignified
Collocations
sink into indignity
|fall into indignity
|live in indignity
|drag someone into indignity
|a life of indignity
Synonyms
disgrace (often implies loss of respect because of wrongdoing or failure.)
|
ignominy (more literary; emphasizes public shame.)
Antonyms
prestige (high status and respect.)
|
honor (public respect and a sense of worth.)
Themes
emotions
|society
Definition
a situation where someone has lost dignity or respect.
the condition of lacking dignity or appearing shamefully undignified.
Grammar
Dictionary form
indignity
IPA
GB/ɪndˈɪɡnəti/
US/ɪndˈɪɡnəti/
Syllables & stress
in - dig - nity (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dig)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: indignity
- Plural: indignities, indignity
Word family
Forms
indignities
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
undignified
adjective
Advanced or less common
indignantly
adverb C1
Expressions
one indignity after another
1/wˈʌn ɪndˈɪɡnəti ˈæftɚ ənˈʌðɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
many humiliations in a row
many humiliating things happen again and again.
Examples
- The whole trip was one indignity after another, from lost bags to rude staff.
- After the injury, it was one indignity after another during his recovery.
- Trying to fix the mistake turned into one indignity after another.
Learner examples
- It was one indignity after another.
- My day felt like one indignity after another.
subject [someone] to indignities
1/səbd͡ʒˈɛkt sˈʌmwˌʌn tə ɪndˈɪɡnətiz/
fixed phrase
formal
treat someone humiliatingly
to make someone experience many humiliations.
Examples
- The report said detainees were subjected to indignities on a daily basis.
- No employee should be subjected to indignities just to keep a job.
- They accused the officials of subjecting residents to needless indignities.
Learner examples
- They subjected him to indignities.
- No one should be subjected to indignities.
suffer an indignity
1/sˈʌfɚ ən ɪndˈɪɡnəti/
fixed phrase
formal
be forced to endure humiliation
to experience something that makes you feel ashamed or disrespected.
Examples
- Passengers suffered the indignity of being questioned for hours without explanation.
- He refused to suffer the indignity of apologizing for something he hadn’t done.
- Many workers suffer indignities that would not be accepted in other industries.
Learner examples
- She suffered an indignity at work.
- I don’t want to suffer that indignity.
the final indignity
1/ðə fˈaɪnəl ɪndˈɪɡnəti/
fixed phrase
formal
last humiliating event
the last bad, humiliating thing that happens.
Examples
- The final indignity was being asked to clean up the mess he hadn’t made.
- For her, the final indignity came when her work was credited to someone else.
- After hours of delays, being turned away at the gate felt like the final indignity.
the indignity of [something]
1/ðə ɪndˈɪɡnəti əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
humiliating aspect of something
used to say something is humiliating.
Examples
- He dreaded the indignity of having to ask his parents for money again.
- She spoke about the indignity of being ignored by the staff.
- They endured the indignity of sleeping on the floor for weeks.
Learner examples
- I hated the indignity of being laughed at.
- He complained about the indignity of the search.