notorious
Known for wrongdoing
Notorious means widely known for something bad.
A notorious criminal has a reputation that precedes them.
The word carries negative weight—you wouldn't call someone notorious for their charity work.
The bar was notorious for its rowdy clientele.
He was a notorious liar.
The noun notoriety follows the same pattern: fame of the unwelcome kind.
Having poor standing
- scandalousMorally offensive or shocking
- disgracefulCausing loss of respect
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- villainousExtremely wicked or criminal
heinous · despicable · odious · nefarious · corrupt · crooked · unscrupulous · shady
Sensationalist newspaper format
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- sensationalArousing intense excitement
- salaciousLewdly interested in intimacy
lurid · headline · exposé · scandal · controversy · infamy · publicized · whispered
Criminal organization member
- mobsterOrganized crime member
- outlawFugitive from justice
- fugitiveOne fleeing authorities
- kingpinCriminal organization's leader
cartel · syndicate · racketeer · bootlegger · smuggler · hitman · bandit · thief
Notorious Chicago crime boss
- Bonnie and ClydeDepression-era outlaw couple
- BlackbeardFamous Caribbean buccaneer
- BorgiaNotorious Renaissance dynasty
- CaligulaDepraved third Roman emperor
Rasputin · Benedict Arnold · Jack the Ripper · Mata Hari · Attila · Nero · Vlad · Torquemada
Widely known, much recognized
- well-knownFamiliar to many
- famedWidely known, admired
- recognizedPerceived as familiar
- prominentEasily noticed or distinguished
storied · legendary · reputed · known · acknowledged · established · documented · recorded
disreputable
Having poor standing
- scandalousMorally offensive or shocking
- disgracefulCausing loss of respect
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
villainous · heinous · despicable · odious · nefarious · corrupt · crooked · unscrupulous · shady · sordid
tabloid
Sensationalist newspaper format
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- sensationalArousing intense excitement
salacious · lurid · headline · exposé · scandal · controversy · infamy · publicized · whispered · rumored
gangster
Criminal organization member
kingpin · cartel · syndicate · racketeer · bootlegger · smuggler · hitman · bandit · thief · robber
Capone
Notorious Chicago crime boss
- Bonnie and ClydeDepression-era outlaw couple
- BlackbeardFamous Caribbean buccaneer
- BorgiaNotorious Renaissance dynasty
Caligula · Rasputin · Benedict Arnold · Jack the Ripper · Mata Hari · Attila · Nero · Vlad · Torquemada · Machiavelli
famous
Widely known, much recognized
- well-knownFamiliar to many
- famedWidely known, admired
- recognizedPerceived as familiar
prominent · storied · legendary · reputed · known · acknowledged · established · documented · recorded · chronicled
- outcastsoutcast, pariah, pariahs, outcasts, outlaws
- reputationreputation, reputable, bad reputation, repute, disreputable
- criminal traitsconvicted, guilty, accused, arrested, wanted
- statusstatus, prestige, ranking, reputation, elite
- awarenessalertness, aware, attention, cognizance, conscious
- scandalscandal, infamy, disgrace, coverup, cover-up
notoriousreputable
Having a good name
respected · honorable · esteemed · admired · prestigious
notoriousunknown
Not yet discovered
anonymous · obscure · unrecognized · nameless · unheard-of
- Notorious B.I.G.
- notorious criminalWidely known lawbreaker
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- Notorious RBGAffectionate title for Ginsburg