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

Momentum grinding to a halt, the absurdities and indignities that unfolded before this point are all but forgotten, lost in a swirl of badly rendered pixels.

From Los Angeles Times

Its hours are limited, and no dogs are allowed, a particular indignity given the number of households in South Park with canines.

From Los Angeles Times

The external chaos was leaking into his personal life, manifesting itself into a series of indignities that did little to quell his anxiety about a country turned upside down.

From Los Angeles Times

"It was the culmination of all of the misconceptions and stereotypical roles that I had lived and seen being offered to me. It was like a reward for having suffered those indignities."

From BBC

It was the final indignity in what was the Dodgers’ eighth loss to the Padres in 11 games, a setback that trimmed the team’s division lead to two games.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• injustice
• insult
• opprobrium