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Renowned vs Infamous - What's the difference?

renowned | infamous |

As adjectives the difference between renowned and infamous

is that renowned is famous, celebrated, or well-known while infamous is having a bad reputation, disreputable; of bad report; notoriously vile; detestable; widely known, especially for something bad.

renowned

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Famous, celebrated, or well-known.
    • The movie Three Stars is about world-renowned chefs.

    Related terms

    * renown

    infamous

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • having a bad reputation, disreputable; of bad report; notoriously vile; detestable; widely known, especially for something bad
    • He was an infamous traitor.
    He was an infamous perjurer.
  • causing infamy; disgraceful
    • This infamous deed tarnishes all involved.
  • (archaic) in England / Great Britain, a judicial punishment which deprived the infamous person of certain rights; this included a prohibition against holding public office, exercising the franchise, receiving a public pension, serving on a jury, or giving testimony in a court of law.

    • Derived terms

    * infamously * infamousness * infamy

    References

    * Oxford English Dictionary