Famous is applied to a person or thing widely spoken of as extraordinary; renowned is applied to those who are named again and again with honor; illustrious, to those who have dazzled the world by the splendor of their deeds or their virtues.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Example sentences

famous Yoshino is a place famous for its cherry blossoms.
distinguished The original and the copy are easily distinguished.
glorious The heroes were congratulated with a glorious song.
renowned She's not renowned for her emotional intelligence.
sainted I did it for my sainted mother who is in heaven.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
illustrious		steady
famous		rising
distinguished		falling
glorious		rising
renowned		rising
sainted		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

5 letters: noted², noble², famed¹
6 letters: famous², bright¹
7 letters: notable³, eminent³, exalted³, sainted²
8 letters: glorious³, renowned², splendid², esteemed², illustre, gloriful
9 letters: brilliant², prominent³, respected³, honorable⁴
10 letters: remarkable⁴, celebrated⁴, honourable⁴
11 letters: outstanding³
13 letters: distinguished³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (noted² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: illustre
Español: conocido