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Villainous vs Infamous - What's the difference?

villainous | infamous |

As adjectives the difference between villainous and infamous

is that villainous is of, relating to, or appropriate to a villain while infamous is having a bad reputation, disreputable; of bad report; notoriously vile; detestable; widely known, especially for something bad.

villainous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • of, relating to, or appropriate to a villain
  • obnoxious, offensive or reprehensible in nature or behaviour; nefarious

    • 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