NOTORIOUS Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'notorious' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of notorious are celebrated , distinguished , eminent , famous , illustrious , noted , and renowned . While all these words mean "known far and wide," notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil. // a notorious gangster

Q: When is 'celebrated' a more appropriate choice than 'notorious'?

The meanings of celebrated and notorious largely overlap; however, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print. // the most celebrated beauty of her day

Q: When would 'distinguished' be a good substitute for 'notorious'?

The words distinguished and notorious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority. // a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

Q: In what contexts can 'eminent' take the place of 'notorious'?

In some situations, the words eminent and notorious are roughly equivalent. However, eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character. // the country's most eminent writers

Q: When could 'famous' be used to replace 'notorious'?

Although the words famous and notorious have much in common, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known. // a famous actress

Q: When can 'illustrious' be used instead of 'notorious'?

The synonyms illustrious and notorious are sometimes interchangeable, but illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person. // illustrious war heroes

Q: When is it sensible to use 'noted' instead of 'notorious'?

While the synonyms noted and notorious are close in meaning, noted suggests well-deserved public attention. // the noted mystery writer

Q: When might 'renowned' be a better fit than 'notorious'?

The words renowned and notorious can be used in similar contexts, but renowned implies more glory and acclamation. // one of the most renowned figures in sports history

notorious

adjective

nō-ˈtȯr-ē-əs

Definition of notorious

as in infamous

not respectable a notorious mastermind of terrorist activities

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in famous

widely known a book signing for a notorious author of tell-all celebrity biographies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word notorious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of notorious are celebrated, distinguished, eminent, famous, illustrious, noted, and renowned. While all these words mean "known far and wide," notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.

a notorious gangster

When is celebrated a more appropriate choice than notorious?

The meanings of celebrated and notorious largely overlap; however, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.

the most celebrated beauty of her day

When would distinguished be a good substitute for notorious?

The words distinguished and notorious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.

a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize

In what contexts can eminent take the place of notorious?

In some situations, the words eminent and notorious are roughly equivalent. However, eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.

the country's most eminent writers

When could famous be used to replace notorious?

Although the words famous and notorious have much in common, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.

a famous actress

When can illustrious be used instead of notorious?

The synonyms illustrious and notorious are sometimes interchangeable, but illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.

illustrious war heroes

When is it sensible to use noted instead of notorious?

While the synonyms noted and notorious are close in meaning, noted suggests well-deserved public attention.

the noted mystery writer

When might renowned be a better fit than notorious?

The words renowned and notorious can be used in similar contexts, but renowned implies more glory and acclamation.

one of the most renowned figures in sports history

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of notorious The eye-popping settlement would resolve 16 lawsuits filed by 17 men who say they were framed for murder by notorious former Chicago Police Detective Reynaldo Guevara. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Kelly Clarkson’s now-notorious visit to Art of Play in Brooklyn — home to a beloved automaton bird named Molly — has been made public. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026 Older video doorbells were notorious for their wide, horizontal field of view. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 Hiroshima was, in fact, especially notorious for its criminal gangs, probably because its near-total destruction had disrupted civilian life with particular severity. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for notorious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for notorious

Adjective

The basic set-up, for years, was just a comic ripping off a joke and performing it on stage; the infamous mid-2000s Comedy Store stand-off between Joe Rogan and alleged joke thief Carlos Mencia is one of the most famous examples.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
This entire ordeal can be traced back to the infamous BCS formula, which captivated audiences with computer rankings that led to fans essentially yelling at computers at seasons end.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of infamous

Adjective

The person answering questions needn't be famous; just someone who has done the thing.

— Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Shahzada was a history buff, so the family had been to Lebanon to see the ancient Cedars of God forest that the Phoenicians had used to build their ships, becoming the Med’s most famous seafarers.

— Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of famous

Adjective

The fake image was attention-grabbing, shady, and timely — in other words, perfect for social media virality but a potential liability for the parties involved.

— Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
If weather permits, be sure to dine at Oliveto Restaurant & Lounge Bar, which sits beneath a shady grove of trees and overlooks the pool and vineyard.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of shady

Adjective

Ahead of rocking the Pond with its classic hits, the famed norteño band brought its signature sound and activism to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The reveal comes a little more than a month after the famed costume designer passed away at 87.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of famed

Adjective

Homeland Security Investigations agents also interviewed Adawag last week, according to the criminal complaint filed against her.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Martin Zummach, an attorney who represents the officer who fired the shot that killed Kohen, says the attorney general's findings cleared his client of criminal wrongdoing.

— SOPHIE BATES, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of criminal

Adjective

Since 2008, Wake Forest’s ‘Open the Gate’ tradition has allowed some of the university’s most celebrated alumni and friends to participate in the Demon Deacon’s motorcycle arrival at Allegacy Stadium.

— Katie Riley, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026
The handbag would go on to become one of Fendi’s most celebrated designs.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of celebrated

Adjective

Perhaps the only prominent Ukrainian who has demanded a wartime election is Fedorov, the former defense minister who elicited the comment about Starshield from Musk.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
Mandell’s wife, Elizabeth Heller Mandell, a gallery owner, nonprofit consultant and arts patron from a prominent California family, predeceased him, leaving him in a position to extend her philanthropic work.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of prominent

Adjective

Advertisement The following day, in a public conversation moderated by renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour, President Nataša Pirc Musar of Slovenia, former Irish President Mary Robinson and I reflected on the choices before humanity.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
His publicist initially told the Associated Press that the renowned designer died of pneumonia, but a death certificate obtained by Us Weekly paints a different picture.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of renowned

Browse Nearby Words

notoriety

notorious

not to mention

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Style

“Notorious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notorious. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of notorious

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