inglorious

adjective

in·​glo·​ri·​ous (ˌ)in-ˈglȯr-ē-əs 

1

: shameful, ignominious

an inglorious defeat

2

: not glorious : lacking fame or honor

made an inglorious comeback

ingloriously adverb

ingloriousness noun

Examples of inglorious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1980, director Martin Scorsese recalled the trauma of watching a retrospective in inglorious Eastmancolor. —Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2025

In its short, inglorious history, the CFPB harassed businesses with hundreds of millions of dollars of frivolous complaints that enriched trial lawyers, while doing nothing of consequence to actually help consumers. —Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2025

The family pardons, in particular, seemed an inglorious way for the outgoing president to depart. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025

Those who will paint this as an inglorious sign-off to an inglorious career aren’t looking hard enough. —Jack Lang, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin inglorius, from in- + gloria glory

First Known Use

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inglorious

• laborious
• notorious
• sartorius
• uproarious
• vainglorious
• victorious
• glorious
• meritorious

Kids Definition

inglorious

adjective

in·​glo·​ri·​ous (ˈ)in-ˈglōr-ē-əs 

-ˈglȯr-

1

: not glorious : not bringing honor or glory

2

: bringing disgrace : shameful

inglorious defeat

ingloriously adverb