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 WebSome social media users took umbrage with the fact that the hijackers depicted in the series called each by Hindu names, despite being Muslims from Pakistan.—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2024 Some politicians have taken umbrage at these alternative bundles of joy.—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2024 When players showed up toting their own circulating fans, Swifties took umbrage at Coach Andy Reid’s spartan conditions.—Annie Gowen, Washington Post, 28 July 2024 Members of some pro-Palestinian groups, Within Our Lifetime and Students for Justice in Palestine, took umbrage and organized a protest of their own on the sidelines of the fictional one, the Times reported.—arkansasonline.com, 25 July 2024 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