OUTRAGE Synonyms: 228 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'outrage' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of outrage are affront , insult , and offend . While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings. // outraged by their accusations

Q: When can 'affront' be used instead of 'outrage'?

While in some cases nearly identical to outrage , affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy. // deeply affronted by his callousness

Q: In what contexts can 'insult' take the place of 'outrage'?

The words insult and outrage can be used in similar contexts, but insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame. // insulted every guest at the party

Q: When is 'offend' a more appropriate choice than 'outrage'?

In some situations, the words offend and outrage are roughly equivalent. However, offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting. // hoped that my remarks had not offended her

outrage 1 of 2

noun

ˈau̇t-ˌrāj

Definition of outrage next

as in insult

an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings the booing during the graduation speech was an outrage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in indignation

an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something the actress could barely contain her outrage at being passed over for an Oscar yet again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

outrage

2 of 2

verb

as in to insult

to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in the spiteful comment outraged her so much that she's still holding a grudge

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as in to anger

to make angry the vandalism in the cemetery outraged the entire community we were outraged to discover that we had been overcharged for our hotel room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word outrage distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of outrage are affront, insult, and offend. While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

When can affront be used instead of outrage?

While in some cases nearly identical to outrage, affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

In what contexts can insult take the place of outrage?

The words insult and outrage can be used in similar contexts, but insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

When is offend a more appropriate choice than outrage?

In some situations, the words offend and outrage are roughly equivalent. However, offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting.

hoped that my remarks had not offended her

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of outrage

Noun

According to the Associated Press, Garett Dorman, whose mother died after consuming contaminated liverwurst, expressed outrage over the finding and is suing the company, according to court documents filed by Marler Clark, a Seattle law firm. —

Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025 After a two-year spike during the pandemic and national outrage over police accountability, Chicago began to see a decline in homicides in 2022. —

Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025

Verb

What should outrage you, though, is that virtually all of this behavior — including multiple accusations of lawbreaking — was greeted with a collective shrug by Florida law enforcement. —

Scott Maxwell, Sun Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2025 The week’s biggest stories Environment and housing Aliso Canyon likely to stay open for years under closure plan; residents outraged California e-bike voucher program flooded with almost 100,000 applications in just 45 minutes. —

Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for outrage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for outrage

Noun

This is a dangerous conflation and an insult to women who choose to cook.

Mina Holland, Vogue, 11 Jan. 2025
This can be through verbal insults, physical acts like slapping and spitting, or openly degrading someone by telling them to perform humiliating tasks (say, drinking a random glass of milk in front of your work colleagues).

Fran Tirado, Them, 10 Jan. 2025