Umbrage is a word born in the shadows. Its ultimate source (and that of umbrella) is Latin umbra, meaning “shade, shadow,” and when it was first used in the 15th century it referred to exactly that. But figurative use followed relatively quickly. Shakespeare wrote of Hamlet that "his semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more,” and by the 17th century this meaning of “vague suggestion; hint,” had been joined by other uses, including the “feeling of resentment or offense” heard today in such sentences as “many took umbrage at the speaker’s tasteless jokes.” The word’s early literal use is not often encountered, though it does live on in literature: for example, in her 1849 novel, Charlotte Brontë describes how the titular Shirley would relax “at the foot of some tree of friendly umbrage.”
huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.
in a huff he slammed the door
Examples of umbrage in a Sentence
took umbrage at the slightest suggestion of disrespect
Recent Examples on the WebHis quote — made before House Republicans in a morning meeting on Capitol Hill to discuss campaign strategies and first reported by Punchbowl News — set off a shockwave, with Democrats and Milwaukee residents (and its mayor) taking umbrage at the diss.—Molly Beck, Journal Sentinel, 13 June 2024 But the subjects of the article—and even those who were pointedly not its subject—took umbrage, some carrying their mini-grudge well into the present day.—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 13 June 2024 In these pages on Tuesday, Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres took umbrage at the visit.—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 May 2024 After all, Washington could hardly take umbrage with Beijing for calling out U.S. behavior confirmed by official U.S. documents.—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2013 See all Example Sentences for umbrage
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'umbrage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin umbraticum, neuter of umbraticus of shade, from umbratus, past participle of umbrare to shade, from umbra shade, shadow; akin to Lithuanian unksmė shadow
Share