🙈 Not well-known 😈 Notorious

unfamous

1 9.9

Many people know and fear someone for cruel actions

adjective
/ʌnˈfeɪməs/

Archaic

: infame

In old tales, the unfamous lord was remembered for his harsh rule.

Examples

The unfamous pirate was feared across the seas for his cruelty.
The city tried to forget its unfamous past of corruption and crime.
He was known for his unfamous deeds throughout the town.
The unfamous restaurant was known for its terrible service.
The unfamous author struggled to find an audience for his dark tales of betrayal.
Despite his talent, he remained unfamous due to his self-imposed isolation from the literary world.
The town's history was filled with unfamous figures who quietly shaped its development.

Synonyms

infamous

vsunfamous

168 5.1

Famous for doing something bad or shameful

is an older archaic term rather than common modern usage

notorious

vsunfamous

163 5.6

Famous for something bad

is archaic and mainly appears in older texts rather than today

disreputable

vsunfamous

9 7.1

Not trusted or respected because of bad behavior

focuses on being widely known for bad reputation rather than poor respectability

ill-famed

vsunfamous

7.8

People know a place or person for bad actions

is an archaic form used mainly in older writing rather than today

Antonyms

famous

∞ 1.0

Many people know them for something good or important

How Notorious

notorious

163 5.6

infamous

168 5.1

unfamous

Archaic

1 9.9

ill-famed

7.8

disreputable

9 7.1

Surface Forms

unfamous positive

Morphology

unfamous = famous (semi-transparent) = un + famous

Although morphologically 'un-' + 'famous', the archaic sense 'notorious' or 'having a bad reputation' shows a negative sense shift that is related but not fully predictable for learners.

Etymology

The word unfamous in older English sometimes meant 'having bad fame' or being notorious, a meaning like the modern word infamous which means 'well known for bad reasons'.