affront

¹af·front

verb \ə-ˈfrənt\

Definition of AFFRONT

transitive verb

1

a : to insult especially to the face by behavior or language b : to cause offense to <a system of law about both family and marriage that affronted lay society — J. H. Mundy>

2

a : to face in defiance : confront <affront death> b obsolete : to encounter face-to-face

3

: to appear directly before

Examples of AFFRONT

1. <did not mean to affront you when I told you I didn't need your help>

Origin of AFFRONT

Middle English afronten, from Anglo-French afrunter to defy, from Vulgar Latin *affrontare, from Latin ad- + front-, frons forehead

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to AFFRONT

Synonyms: insult, dis (also diss) [slang], disrespect, offend, outrage, slap, slight, wound

Related Words: cut, snub; displease, distress, disturb, hurt, miff, pain, trouble, upset; jeer, mock, ridicule, sneer (at), taunt; defame, disparage, libel, malign, revile, slander, slur, smear; oppress, persecute, torment, torture

Near Antonyms: acclaim, applaud, approve, hail; commend, compliment, eulogize, praise; adulate, flatter, sweet-talk; exalt, glorify, honor; delight, gratify, please, satisfy

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See Synonym Discussion at offend

Rhymes with AFFRONT

beachfront, bowfront, breakfront, cold front, confront, drag bunt, drop front, fly front, forefront, home front, housefront, lakefront, manhunt, out-front, seafront, shirtfront, shock front, shorefront, still hunt, storefront, swell-front, up-front, warm front, wave front, witch hunt