Famous-Infamous | Commonly Confused Words
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Famous vs. Infamous

Famous

/ˈfeɪməs/
Well-known and recognized widely

Examples:

'I am already famous for my medical skills,' he thought proudly.The man defending him was Sir Ernest Heavywether, a famous lawyer.It reminds me of that famous Wayne Gretzky quote:

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Infamous

/ˈɪnfəməs/
Known for a bad reason or for doing something wrong.

Examples:

"This is infamous, your Honor.His infamous acts were the talk of the entire town.The infamous scandal rocked the political arena for years.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Famous is used to describe someone or something widely known and celebrated, often for positive reasons.
  • Infamous implies being known widely but for negative reasons, often due to a bad reputation or scandal.
  • Think of infamous as being linked to infamy, which has a negative connotation, unlike famous.
  • You might say a famous singer is known for their talent, while an infamous person might be known for a major crime.
  • Remember that famous carries a positive or neutral implication, whereas infamous always implies negativity or notoriety.
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