infamous
gb/ˈɪnfəməs/ us/ˈɪnfəməs/
B2
English
~ 7400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
Well-known for bad or evil reasons
Known by a lot of people for something very bad or wrong.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] be infamous for [something bad]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "infamous" with "famous" and think it is positive. "Infamous" always suggests something bad or shameful. Also, many learners say "infamous of" or "infamous because"; the most natural pattern is "infamous for [something bad]" (e.g., "The town is infamous for its crime").
Synonyms
notorious (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and can sound a bit less formal.)
|
disgraced (Focuses more on having lost respect because of bad actions, not just being widely known.)
|
ill-famed (Similar meaning but sounds old-fashioned or literary.)
Antonyms
famous (Means widely known, usually for positive or neutral reasons.)
|
renowned (Widely admired and respected for good qualities or achievements.)
|
celebrated (Emphasizes being praised and honored, the opposite of being known for bad things.)
Collocations
infamous for corruption
|infamous for human rights abuses
|infamous dictator
|infamous celebrity
|an infamous prison
|an infamous reputation
Themes
reputation
|society
|crime
|media
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company became infamous for dumping toxic waste into the river.
- He is infamous for his online rants against anyone who disagrees with him.
- The prison was infamous for its brutal treatment of inmates.
- The politician was already infamous for breaking campaign promises.
- That street is infamous for pickpocketing and small crimes.
Learner examples
- The city is infamous for its heavy traffic.
- The singer became infamous after he lied to his fans.
- This website is infamous for sharing false news.
- The school is infamous for its very strict rules.
- That bar is infamous for fights on Friday nights.
adjective
C1
property
2
Extremely bad and shocking
Describes an action or thing that is very, very bad and shocking.
Usage pattern:
an infamous [crime/event/action/law]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "infamous" where a general negative word like "bad" or "awful" is enough. "Infamous" is strong and should be kept for actions or events that are extremely bad or widely condemned. It usually does not fit everyday small problems, like "an infamous sandwich" or "an infamous delay" unless used humorously.
Synonyms
heinous (Stronger and more formal; especially used for very cruel or shocking crimes.)
|
atrocious (Focuses on extreme cruelty or horror, especially in violent acts.)
|
egregious (Formal; emphasizes something that is shockingly bad or obvious, often about mistakes or abuses.)
Antonyms
honorable (Suggests moral goodness and high principles, the opposite of a shamefully bad act.)
|
admirable (Describes actions that people respect and approve of, not those they condemn.)
|
commendable (Formal; used for actions that deserve praise, opposite of actions that deserve blame.)
Collocations
infamous crime
|infamous massacre
|infamous speech
|infamous law
|infamous incident
|infamous attack
Themes
crime
|justice
|politics
|history
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The dictator is remembered for the infamous massacre of peaceful protesters.
- It was an infamous decision that led to years of suffering for the local people.
- The new law became infamous as one of the harshest in the country’s history.
- Journalists still talk about the senator’s infamous speech defending corruption.
- The company’s infamous data breach exposed millions of users’ personal details.
Learner examples
- The leader made an infamous speech that many people hated.
- History books tell the story of this infamous war.
- It was an infamous crime that shocked the whole world.
- The city remembers that infamous day with sadness.
- The government passed an infamous law that hurt poor people.
Grammar
Expressions
infamous last words
1/ˈɪnfəməs lˈæst wˈɚdz/
idiom
informal
A claim soon proven very wrong
Said when someone makes a strong, sure comment that soon turns out to be very wrong or embarrassing.
Examples
- "Don't worry, this will be easy," he said—infamous last words before everything went wrong.
- She laughed and said, "I never get sick"—infamous last words, because she caught the flu the next day.
- "The project is basically finished," he claimed, in what turned out to be his infamous last words.