Ignoble is an adjective describing actions or motives that are dishonorable, shameful, or lacking in noble qualities. It connotes baseness or degradation, often implying contemptible behavior or character. The term is formal and relatively rare in everyday speech, used to critique conduct or character with a precise moral judgment.
"His ignoble behavior at the negotiations shocked everyone who respected the process."
"The politician’s ignoble tactics damaged public trust and credibility."
"She exposed the ignoble motives behind the supposed charitable foundation."
"Despite his wealth, he led an ignoble life, prioritizing power over ethics."
Ignoble originates from Middle English ig-NOBLE, from the Old French ignoble, which itself derives from Italian dis-noble or Latin ignobilis, combining in- (negation) with
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Ignoble" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Ignoble"
-ble sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Ignoble is pronounced ig-NO-bəl with stress on the second syllable. IPA: US ɪɡˈnoʊ.bəl, UK ɪˈnəʊ.bəl, AU ɪˈnəʊ.bəl. Start with a short “i” as in inch, then a bold stressed “NO” with a long O, and end with a light, unstressed schwa followed by bəl. Think: ”ig-NO-bəl.”
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (say ig-NO-ble when the stress should be on NO), shortening the second syllable too much (pronouncing it as -ble with a strong b), or turning the final -ble into -bul with a heavier vowel. Correct by keeping the final -ble as a light, unstressed -bəl, place primary emphasis on NO, and use the long O sound /oʊ/ in the second syllable.
In US and UK, the middle vowel in the second syllable carries the primary vowel sound: US /ɪɡˈnoʊ.bəl/, UK /ɪˈnəʊ.bəl/. The main difference is the initial unstressed syllable’s vowel and the presence or reduction of the rhotic 'r' is not relevant here. Australian English follows /ɪˈnəʊ.bəl/ with a slightly more centralized vowel in the first unstressed syllable and a rounded /əʊ/ in the second syllable.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable structure with a mid-to-long diphthong /oʊ/ in the stressed syllable and a weak final schwa that can be swallowed if you speak quickly. Also, the initial consonant cluster /ɡ/ can bleed into the preceding vowel if you don’t maintain crisp onset. Practicing the sequence ig-NO-bəl with clear, separate syllables helps control the vowel lengths and the final schwa.
A key nuance is the stability of the second syllable vowel: it should be a long /oʊ/ rather than a shortened /o/. If you make the second syllable short, listeners might hear ig-NO-bəl as a single syllable word. Ensure the /oʊ/ is full and the final -bəl remains light and unstressed to avoid a clipped ending.
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