Famous

adj.joyful, capableeveryday

What it means

Recognized by a large number of people, usually for a particular reason.

Reach for it when describing broad public notice without automatically praising character

The harbor is famous for a night market run by fishing families.

playful
household name
near-universal popular recognition suits informal prose
not when The idiom excludes famous places and objects.
playful
iconic
the person or object symbolizes a style or era
not when Iconic is overused and needs more than simple recognition.
everyday
well-known
recognition is broad but ordinary in scale
not when Well-known carries less cultural prominence than famous.
warm
celebrated
public praise accompanies recognition
not when A controversial person can be famous but not celebrated.
professional
prominent
current importance or visibility matters
not when Prominence may be temporary and limited to one field.
formal
notorious
wide recognition comes from something harmful
not when Notorious reverses the positive implication many readers hear in famous.
formal
renowned
being known specifically for excellence is essential
not when Renowned wrongly adds admiration to mere celebrity.