slightly infamous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly infamous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is known for a negative reason, but to a lesser extent than being fully infamous. Example: "The restaurant became slightly infamous for its bizarre menu items that left many customers puzzled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One slightly infamous Guardian piece from 2014 actually argued that other riders – not lorries, not cars – are the biggest worry about cycling in London.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Within hours of that surreal encounter, a prominent white nationalist whose far-right group's slogan "You will not replace us" became the slightly more infamous "Jews will not replace us" chant at Charlottesville last summer tweeted a photo of himself appearing at the White House.

Vice

Within hours of that surreal encounter, a prominent white nationalist whose far-right group's slogan "You will not replace us" became the slightly more infamous "Jews will not erase us" chant at Charlottesville last summer tweeted a photo of himself appearing at the White House.

Vice

The tracks were handpicked from the Jackson vaults by L. A. Reid, which is slightly strange Reid co-wrote the infamous "Word to the Badd," Jermaine Jackson's 1991 broadside against Michael but also entirely defensible, given Reid's familiarity with the Jackson family and Jackson's legacy.

The New Yorker

Slightly inspired by Gertrude Stein's infamous Paris apartment gallery, the Studio, the space itself reminds you nothing of the gargantuan openings you'd find at Zwirner and its ilk.

Forbes

Unlike a voting machine, the human eye can read some ballots with minor mistakes, like slightly misplaced marks or the now infamous hanging chads.

The New York Times

It's a slightly safer cousin of AHI's infamous piece Dance Dance Immolation, in which participant would dance in a flame-retardant suit; when they put a foot wrong, they would be blasted by fire.

The Guardian

The tracks were handpicked from the Jackson vaults by L. A. Reid, which is slightly strange — Reid co-wrote the infamous "Word to the Badd," Jermaine Jackson's 1991 broadside against Michael — but also entirely defensible, given Reid's familiarity with the Jackson family and Jackson's legacy.

The New Yorker

During You Made Me Realise and its infamous "holocaust" section – the slightly distasteful name for several minutes of feral distortion – you reflect fondly that a lot of this tactile din is being made by a 51-year-old mother of three who looks as though she might be going straight to a nice cocktail party afterwards.

The Guardian - Music

Then they might move farther out, to where London thinks about becoming rural Essex, to still-working-class-but-slightly-less-so Chingford, where the infamous gangster Kray twins are buried.

Los Angeles Times

sleep-deprived, alcohol-inspired days," Blum writes, "that Harry Harlow first started thinking about the nature of love". He married again, fathered two more children, worked like a maniac, lost his wife to cancer, suffered from depression relieved only slightly by electroshock therapy and created his infamous isolated-monkey model of depression.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly infamous" to describe something or someone that has a negative reputation but not to a severe degree. It's appropriate when the notoriety is known but not overwhelming.

Common error

Avoid using "slightly infamous" when the subject is widely and intensely known for negative reasons. Reserve it for situations where the infamy is mild or limited in scope.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly infamous" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by attributing a quality of being known for something bad, but only to a limited degree. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slightly infamous" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe someone or something known for negative reasons, but not extensively. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While suitable for general use, writers should be mindful of the specific degree of negative reputation they wish to convey and choose alternative phrases like ""somewhat notorious"" if a stronger or more specific nuance is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a little infamous

Slightly less formal phrasing emphasizing the presence of infamy, not just its degree.

somewhat notorious

Indicates a level of fame for negative reasons, similar to "slightly infamous" but emphasizes widespread knowledge.

marginally notorious

Highlights the small degree of notoriety, similar to "slightly infamous" but focuses on the marginal aspect.

mildly disreputable

Focuses on a lack of respectability, differing from "slightly infamous" by highlighting moral standing rather than fame.

relatively infamous

Indicates infamy in comparison to something else, whereas "slightly infamous" doesn't require a comparison.

a bit notorious

Casual phrasing indicating something is known negatively, though less formal than "slightly infamous".

rather infamous

A more emphatic version, "rather infamous" suggests a stronger degree of ill-repute than "slightly infamous".

slightly scandalous

Emphasizes the shocking or offensive aspect, differing from "slightly infamous" which is a broader term.

kind of infamous

Informal way to say something is infamous, less precise than "slightly infamous".

somewhat tainted

Suggests a loss of purity or integrity, unlike "slightly infamous" which indicates a bad reputation.

FAQs

What does "slightly infamous" mean?

It means someone or something is known for negative reasons, but not to a large extent. It implies a mild degree of ill-repute or notoriety.

How can I use "slightly infamous" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a person, place, or thing that has gained a small amount of negative attention. For example, "The restaurant became "somewhat notorious" for its bizarre menu items".

What can I say instead of "slightly infamous"?

Alternatives include "somewhat notorious", "mildly disreputable", or "a bit notorious" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "slightly infamous" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, consider the audience. In some formal contexts, "somewhat notorious" or another more neutral term might be preferable.