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GRE vocabulary

notorious

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore N words

famous or well known for something bad

Word origin: From Latin notus, known.

In a sentence

Notorious in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing notorious in a sentence.

The neighborhood was notorious for its high crime rate.

The pass became notorious among climbers for sudden storms that had trapped several expeditions.

Synonyms
infamousdisreputableill-famed
Antonyms
esteemedrespectedreputable
Usage & nuance

Using “notorious” well

Notorious means widely known for something bad, carrying a clearly negative judgment. Do not use it as a neutral synonym for famous, which lacks the disreputable implication.

Common questions

Questions about “notorious

Notorious (adjective) means famous or well known for something bad
Here is notorious used in an example sentence: "The neighborhood was notorious for its high crime rate." Another example: "The pass became notorious among climbers for sudden storms that had trapped several expeditions."
Common synonyms for notorious include infamous, disreputable, ill-famed.
Antonyms of notorious include esteemed, respected, reputable.
Notorious clusters with infamous, disreputable, and ill-famed. Its antonyms esteemed, respected, and reputable mark the positive contrast.
Yes. Notorious is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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