indignity

[ in-dig-ni-tee ]

noun

, plural in·dig·ni·ties.

1. an injury to a person's dignity; slighting or contemptuous treatment; humiliating affront, insult, or injury.

   Synonyms: outrage

2. Obsolete. disgrace or disgraceful action.

indignity

/ ɪnˈdɪɡnɪtɪ /

noun

1. injury to one's self-esteem or dignity; humiliation
2. obsolete.
   disgrace or disgraceful character or conduct

Word History and Origins

Origin of indignity¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin indignitās “unworthiness,” equivalent to indign(us) “undeserving, unworthy”( indign ) + -itās -ity

Synonym Study

See insult.

Example Sentences

Poor and minority students faced other indignities as well, including unhygienic lunchrooms.

From Washington Post

It’s just one of many indignities visited upon poor Francie in “The Living Sea of Waking Dreams,” Australian writer Richard Flanagan’s latest novel.

From Washington Post

Both times, he escaped conviction because his hold over the Republican Party remained so strong that lawmakers decided they had little choice but to spare him the indignity of an early removal.

From Time

For most of her career at Fresno State, Megan Walaitis didn’t think much of the little indignities that went along with being a women’s lacrosse player.

From Washington Post

They narrowly avoided having their woes in their trying 2020 season amplified with that indignity.

From Washington Post

As a final indignity, Green alleges that he dropped two $100 bills on her end table and left.

From The Daily Beast

Hand over the goodies or we could suffer some danger or indignity.

From The Daily Beast

It doesn't make you a better person because you endured the indignity and trauma of it.

From The Daily Beast

America may be able to survive that collective indignity, but the First Amendment is not.

From The Daily Beast

Bass once suffered the indignity of being the third hottest member of 'N Sync, widely considered to be less hot than JC Chasez.

From The Daily Beast

This rascal was owed a debt for the indignity he had offered the sahib in the village, and now he was paid in full.

From Project Gutenberg

Even her father's well-known madness for things of art could scarcely atone to his child for this indignity.

From Project Gutenberg

Resigned beforehand to all sorts of jests and humiliations, she had not foreseen such an excess of indignity.

From Project Gutenberg

Dr Westcott is not the only English Mason who has suffered the undeserved indignity of gross aspersion from this unclean pen.

From Project Gutenberg

They at once took him into custody, and brought him back, but without any violence or indignity, to the patriarch.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• injustice
• insult
• opprobrium