indignant
adjective
in·dig·nant
in-ˈdig-nənt 
: feeling or showing anger because of something unjust or unworthy : filled with or marked by indignation
became indignant at the accusation
indignantly
adverb
Synonyms
- angered
- angry
- apoplectic
- ballistic
- cheesed off [chiefly British]
- choleric
- enraged
- foaming
- fuming
- furious
- hopping
- horn-mad
- hot
- incensed
- inflamed
- 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
Examples of indignant in a Sentence
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
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
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
She wrote an indignant letter to the editor.
He was very indignant about the changes.
an indignant tone of voice
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Paul Theroux, New York Times Book Review, 11 June 2000
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
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
She wrote an indignant letter to the editor.
He was very indignant about the changes.
an indignant tone of voice
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Related Even broaching the subject of anti-LGBTQ legislation immediately prompts Russell’s indignant fury.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2023
Cyrus responded with an indignant tweet, which questioned O’Connor’s mental state and compared her to the deeply troubled young actress Amanda Bynes.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2023
The movie, streaming on Max and on the Criterion Channel, is both indignant and uproarious.
—The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2023
But his sensibilities have evolved and relaxed with age; when a Detroit cop (Norbert Leo Butz) suggests arranging for the local Albanian mob to take out Mansell, Raylan is indignant, insisting the goal should be to put their target into a tiny prison cell for a very long time.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2023
Foreign governments, especially those in the West, have followed Khan’s indignant campaign with, at best, quizzical interest.
—Husain Haqqani, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2023
She’s driven, with this incredibly strong and perhaps indignant sense of what journalism should be.
—ELLE, 29 Apr. 2023
That was Beijing's indignant reaction after news that India, its neighbor and fierce rival, will soon overtake China as the world's most populous country.
—Jace Zhang, NBC News, 21 Apr. 2023
If so, indignant conservatives are late to the game.
—Win McCormack, The New Republic, 12 Aug. 2021
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Stephen Daw, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2023
Cyrus responded with an indignant tweet, which questioned O’Connor’s mental state and compared her to the deeply troubled young actress Amanda Bynes.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2023
The movie, streaming on Max and on the Criterion Channel, is both indignant and uproarious.
—The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2023
But his sensibilities have evolved and relaxed with age; when a Detroit cop (Norbert Leo Butz) suggests arranging for the local Albanian mob to take out Mansell, Raylan is indignant, insisting the goal should be to put their target into a tiny prison cell for a very long time.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2023
Foreign governments, especially those in the West, have followed Khan’s indignant campaign with, at best, quizzical interest.
—Husain Haqqani, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2023
She’s driven, with this incredibly strong and perhaps indignant sense of what journalism should be.
—ELLE, 29 Apr. 2023
That was Beijing's indignant reaction after news that India, its neighbor and fierce rival, will soon overtake China as the world's most populous country.
—Jace Zhang, NBC News, 21 Apr. 2023
If so, indignant conservatives are late to the game.
—Win McCormack, The New Republic, 12 Aug. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indignant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near indignant
Cite this Entry
“Indignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indignant. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
indignant
adjective
in·dig·nant
in-ˈdig-nənt
: filled with or expressing indignation
indignantly
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on indignant
Nglish: Translation of indignant for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of indignant for Arabic Speakers
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