indignant

in·dig·nant

adjective \in-ˈdig-nənt\

Definition of INDIGNANT

: feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy : filled with or marked by indignation <became indignant at the accusation>

— in·dig·nant·ly adverb

Examples of INDIGNANT

1. She wrote an indignant letter to the editor.
2. He was very indignant about the changes.
3. an indignant tone of voice
4. Melville was so struck by the drama of the Essex (deliberately battered by an indignant and maddened whale, which at last brained itself by sinking the ship) that he used it as the end of Moby-Dick. —Paul Theroux, New York Times Book Review, 11 June 2000
5. What you really need is a story that will not only excuse tardiness but encourage your boss to give you the entire day off. … Should anyone give you the third degree on your return to work, don't hesitate to become indignant and stomp out of the room. —Jeff Foxworthy, No Shirt. No Shoes. No Problem!, 1996
6. When the Roman soldiers were asked to take part in the Claudian invasion of 43, they waxed indignant. This was asking them to carry on a campaign “outside the limits of the known world.” —Antonia Fraser, The Warrior Queens, 1988

Origin of INDIGNANT

Latin indignant-, indignans, present participle of indignari to be indignant, from indignus unworthy, from in- + dignus worthy — more at decent

First Known Use: 1590

Related to INDIGNANT

Synonyms

angered, apoplectic, ballistic, cheesed off [chiefly British], choleric, enraged, foaming, fuming, furious, hopping, horn-mad, hot, incensed, angry, inflamed (also enflamed), infuriate, infuriated, irate, ireful, livid, mad, outraged, rabid, rankled, riled, riley, roiled, shirty [chiefly British], sore, steamed up, steaming, teed off, ticked, wrathful, wroth

Antonyms

angerless, delighted, pleased

Related Words

ranting, raving, stormy; boiling, bristling, bristly, burning, cross, huffy, passionate, seething, sizzling, smoldering (or smouldering), worked up, wrought (up); acrid, acrimonious, antagonistic, antipathetic, bitter, embittered, inimical, malevolent, piqued, rancorous, resentful, spiteful, vengeful, vindictive, virulent, vitriolic; antisocial, cold, cool, disagreeable, disapproving, distant, frigid, icy, ill-tempered, sorehead (or soreheaded), sulky, unfriendly, unpleasant; aggravated, annoyed, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, churlish, crabby, cranky, dyspeptic, exasperated, fretful, fussy, grouchy, grumpy, ill-humored, inflammable, irascible, irritable, peevish, perturbed, petulant, put out, quick-tempered, snappish, testy, touchy; argumentative, belligerent, contentious, contrary, disputatious, ornery, pugnacious, quarrelsome, querulous

Near Antonyms

accepting, accommodating, obliging; agreeable, amenable, complaisant; amicable, cordial, friendly; content, happy, satisfied; empathetic, sympathetic, tolerant, understanding; calm, pacific, peaceable, placid, serene, tranquil, unembittered; affable, amiable, easygoing, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, kind, pleasant, sweet

Rhymes with INDIGNANT

benignant, malignant