What does ignominiously mean?
Ignominiously is an adverb meaning in a manner marked by shame, disgrace, or public humiliation. It is especially used to describe an exceptionally humiliating defeat, failure, dismissal, or collapse, often with the suggestion that the manner of failure is as degrading as the result itself. The word can attach to actions such as failing, being dismissed, or being defeated, but it implies deliberate or conspicuous disgrace rather than an ordinary loss. Its tone is formal, literary, and strongly disapproving, so it is not usually appropriate in neutral reporting or routine descriptions of failure. Related forms include the adjective ignominious, meaning shameful or dishonourable, and the noun ignominy, meaning deep disgrace or infamy. Although less common than the simpler word shamefully, ignominiously is useful when a writer wants to emphasize not merely bad performance but a humiliating breach of honour or dignity.
adverbIn a shameful, dishonourable, or humiliating manner; with disgrace and public discredit.
- In a shameful, dishonourable, or humiliating manner.
"The team was ignominiously defeated in the opening round of the tournament."
"The minister resigned after being ignominiously dismissed from office."
"Her argument collapsed ignominiously when the evidence contradicted every major claim she had made."
Sometimes one defeat is bad; losing so comprehensively that the result becomes a byword is ignominiously bad.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ignominiously come from?
The word comes from Latin, where ignōminia meant disgrace or infamy and was associated with ignōmen, a loss of reputation or name. Latin also had the adjective ignōminiōsus, meaning shameful or dishonourable, from which the English adverb was formed. Ignominiously entered English during the early modern period and retains the strong sense of public disgrace and humiliation found in its Latin source.
Related word forms
How ignominiously is actually used
This is a formal, literary, and strongly evaluative word. It conveys more than simple misfortune, implying disgrace, humiliation, or a conspicuously dishonourable failure.
Easily confused with ignominiously
Ignominious is the adjective meaning shameful or dishonourable, whereas ignominiously is the adverb describing how such disgrace occurs.