dubious honor

noun

The supposed honor of being selected to do a difficult or unpopular task or the supposed honor associated with receiving a questionable award.

“"The big league athlete had the dubious honor of being voted 'Most Difficult to Interview' by the sportswriters." An ironic honor, so to speak.”

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Meanings

noundubious honor (plural dubious honors)

plural dubious honors · alternative dubious honour

  1. USThe supposed honor of being selected to do a difficult or unpopular task or the supposed honor associated with receiving a questionable award.

    "The big league athlete had the dubious honor of being voted 'Most Difficult to Interview' by the sportswriters." An ironic honor, so to speak.

    1 more example

    "I have the dubious honor of being in charge of fundraising for roof repair on the town youth gymnasium." Meaning, it's an honor to be tasked yet something unwanted.

Translations

German zweifelhafte Ehre
  • zweifelhafte Ehresupposed honor
Cite this entry
APA

dubious honor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dubious%20honor

MLA

“dubious honor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dubious%20honor. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dubious honor,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dubious%20honor.

Source: dubious honor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.