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ignoble

vile, despicable

adjective ee-NOBL Rare

Origin: Latin ignobilis ('of low birth, dishonourable')

Usage Note

Ignoble is stronger than honteux or méprisable — it conveys moral baseness or utter contempt. It is invariable in gender in writing (un acte ignoble, une conduite ignoble). Overuse weakens it; save it for genuinely outrageous acts.

Examples

"C'était un acte ignoble et lâche."

Natural Translation

It was a vile and cowardly act.

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