Use Notoriety In A Sentence | Clear Meaning Moves

“Notoriety” is one of those words that sounds glossy until you check what it carries. It doesn’t mean “famous.” It means “known widely for something that draws blame.” When you use it well, your sentence lands with a sharp edge. When you use it loosely, the reader can feel the wobble.

This article gives you ready-to-use sentences, plus the small grammar choices that make the word feel natural: which verbs pair well, what tone it sets, and how to avoid mixing it up with “popularity” or “renown.”

What Notoriety Means And When It Fits

Notoriety is public attention tied to scandal, harm, or rule-breaking. Think “known for cheating,” “known for corruption,” or “known for a stunt that backfired.” If the person or thing is admired, “notoriety” is the wrong pick.

Use this quick test while drafting: can you swap in “bad fame” without changing the meaning? If yes, notoriety fits. If the line turns strange, pick a cleaner word like “fame,” “recognition,” “renown,” or “reputation,” depending on what you mean.

• Use notoriety for scandals, backlash, and repeated wrongdoing.
• Avoid notoriety for awards, skill, or earned respect.
• Watch tone: it adds judgment even when you don’t spell judgment out.

Fast Sentence Patterns That Sound Natural

Once you’ve got the negative tilt down, the next step is structure. “Notoriety” acts like a standard abstract noun, so it works with many of the same sentence frames as “fame” or “reputation.” The difference is the mood it brings.

Common Verb Pairings

These verbs fit because they match how bad attention spreads and sticks:

• gain notoriety
• earn notoriety
• achieve notoriety
• court notoriety
• seek notoriety
• fall into notoriety
• live with notoriety

Useful Prepositions

Prepositions help you name the reason, which keeps the sentence tight:

• notoriety for + noun/gerund: “for bribery,” “for falsifying data”
• notoriety as + role/label: “as a repeat offender,” “as a rumor mill”
• notoriety among + group: “among regulators,” “among fans who track leaks”

Context	Sentence Using “Notoriety”	Why It Works
School essay	The politician’s notoriety grew after investigators exposed the bribery scheme.	Links public attention to misconduct, not praise.
News-style line	The company gained notoriety when the recall revealed ignored safety warnings.	“Gained” fits a sudden wave of negative attention.
History writing	The prison earned notoriety for harsh conditions and repeated rights complaints.	A clear “for” phrase pins down the cause.
Character sketch	He courted notoriety by leaking private emails and bragging online.	Shows intent and adds attitude with “courted.”
Business tone	The brand’s notoriety made partners cautious, even before any lawsuit landed.	Shows fallout without extra drama.
Academic tone	The researcher avoided notoriety by correcting the error publicly.	Uses “avoid” to show reputational risk.
Everyday speech	That bar has notoriety for overcharging tourists, so locals skip it.	Simple, direct, and naturally negative.
Sports talk	The team’s notoriety for dirty play followed them into every arena.	Shows a pattern that “follows” over time.

Use Notoriety In A Sentence In Formal Writing

Formal writing likes clean meaning, and “notoriety” can be crisp when you name the source of the bad attention. Pair it with concrete actions and details, not fuzzy claims. In essays and reports, treat the word like a label that needs support nearby.

Two setups work well:

1. Cause first, label second: state the act, then name the resulting notoriety.
2. Label first, cause second: name the notoriety, then attach a tight “for” phrase.

Keep adjectives plain. “Notoriety” already carries bite, so piling on extra heat can read like opinion. If you want a steady academic voice, let the facts carry the weight.

Model Sentences For Essays And Reports

• The incident gave the lab notoriety for weak oversight and sloppy recordkeeping.
• Over time, the site developed notoriety as a dumping ground for counterfeit goods.
• The ruling increased the firm’s notoriety, since the evidence showed repeated deception.
• Public records explain the organization’s notoriety for mishandling funds.

If you want a quick meaning check from a reputable reference, see Merriam-Webster’s definition of “notoriety”.

Using Notoriety In A Sentence With Clear Negative Meaning

Writers trip over “notoriety” when they use it as a fancy substitute for “fame.” You can dodge that by making the negative angle visible inside the sentence. Name a cause that signals blame, or pair the word with a consequence that shows people pulling away.

Concrete Causes That Fit The Word

These causes match the word’s tone without sounding theatrical:

• fraud, bribery, or embezzlement
• unsafe practices
• plagiarism
• data manipulation
• repeated rule violations
• public harassment
• cover-ups

Consequences That Pair Well

Notoriety often sits next to fallout. You can attach it to outcomes like:

• lost trust
• boycotts
• fines
• blocked partnerships
• extra scrutiny

Try this edit move: replace “notoriety” with “shameful fame.” If the sentence still reads clean, you’re in the right zone. If it feels off, you may be reaching for a word that doesn’t match the tone you want.

Sentence Examples By Setting

Below are varied samples you can adapt. Keep the core action, swap the nouns, and the line will still sound natural. If you need to use notoriety in a sentence for homework, pick a sample that matches your topic and adjust details so it stays accurate.

School And Academic Writing

• The dictator’s notoriety came from mass arrests and strict censorship.
• The scandal turned a quiet policy dispute into nationwide notoriety.
• The journal faced notoriety after reviewers found copied passages in multiple papers.
• The city’s notoriety for rigged permits pushed reform onto the ballot.

Work And Business Writing

• The vendor’s notoriety for late deliveries pushed clients to switch suppliers.
• After the leak, the app gained notoriety for weak data protection.
• The manager tried to avoid notoriety by reporting the mistake before it spread.
• The contractor’s notoriety raised costs, since insurers demanded stricter terms.

Everyday Conversation

• That corner shop has notoriety for selling expired snacks.
• He’s got notoriety at school for starting fights, not for good grades.
• The shortcut has notoriety for getting cars stuck after rain.
• Our group chat gave him notoriety for stirring drama, then ghosting.

Creative Writing

• Her family’s notoriety clung to her name like a stain she couldn’t wash out.
• The nightclub lived on notoriety, feeding off rumors and whispered warnings.
• He chased notoriety with reckless pranks until the laughter died.
• The town wore its notoriety like a bruise that never quite faded.

Common Mix-Ups And Clean Fixes

Even strong writers slip with “notoriety,” mostly because it sits close to “notable” and “notorious.” The fixes are simple once you know what each word does and what each word doesn’t do.

Notoriety Vs. Fame

Fame is neutral. It can come from talent, luck, or attention. Notoriety is negative. It comes with blame. If your sentence is praising someone, “fame” or “renown” will read cleaner.

Notoriety Vs. Notorious

“Notorious” is the adjective form and it keeps the negative tilt. Use it to modify a noun: “a notorious scam,” “a notorious rumor mill.” Use “notoriety” for the abstract idea: “his notoriety,” “the city’s notoriety.”

Notoriety Vs. Reputation

“Reputation” can be good, bad, or mixed. “Notoriety” is bad. If the context is balanced or unclear, “reputation” may be the safer pick. If the context is plainly negative, “notoriety” lands harder and more specific.

Common Mistake	Cleaner Rewrite	Quick Check
Using “notoriety” to mean praise	The chef gained recognition after winning the award.	Is the attention positive?
Vague cause	The agency gained notoriety for falsifying inspection logs.	Did you name the act?
Overheated tone	The influencer gained notoriety after a staged stunt backfired.	Do the facts carry it?
Wrong form	The site is notorious for scams; its notoriety keeps growing.	Do you need adjective or noun?
Wordy setup	The rumor gave him notoriety in the office.	Can you trim the lead-in?
Too many repeats	His notoriety faded, but the stain on his reputation stayed.	Did you echo it twice?

Small Grammar Choices That Lift Your Sentence

Strong usage often comes down to tiny choices: articles, modifiers, and the rhythm of the clause that follows. These tweaks keep your line from sounding like a vocabulary card.

Articles: “A” Vs. “The”

Use “a” when you mean one instance of negative public attention: “a notoriety that followed him.” Use “the” when you mean a known, shared story: “the notoriety around the case.”

Modifiers That Stay Accurate

Notoriety pairs well with measured modifiers like “sudden,” “growing,” “lasting,” or “local.” Skip praise-coded modifiers like “well-earned” unless you’re writing irony and your reader will catch it.

Clause Control

After “notoriety,” the cleanest add-on is a tight “for” phrase. It keeps the reader from guessing. In student writing, that one move can turn a vague line into a clear one.

Practice Drills You Can Do In Five Minutes

To make the word feel natural, you need a bit of repetition, yet not the copy-paste kind. Try these quick drills:

1. Swap drill: write one sentence with “fame,” then rewrite it with “notoriety” by changing the cause to something blameworthy.
2. Verb drill: write three lines that start with “gained notoriety,” “courted notoriety,” and “lived with notoriety.”
3. Tone drill: write one neutral sentence, then darken it by adding a consequence like “lost trust” or “faced fines.”

If you want another reputable reference that marks the negative sense, see Cambridge Dictionary’s “notoriety” entry.

Quick Editing Checklist Before You Submit

Run this list on your draft and you’ll catch the usual slips:

• Does the sentence show a negative reason for being known?
• Is the cause stated with a “for” phrase or a clear action?
• Would “bad fame” fit in the same spot?
• Did you avoid using the word as a compliment?
• Did you keep the sentence tight and readable?

Now you can use notoriety in a sentence with confidence: keep the cause clear, keep the tone honest, and let the word do its job.