outrage

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noun out·rage \ ˈau̇t-ˌrāj \

Definition of outrage

1 :an act of violence or brutality

arranged outrages and assassinations
—Anthony West

2 a :injury, insult

do no outrages on silly women or poor passengers
—William Shakespeare

b :an act that violates accepted standards of behavior or taste

an outrage alike against decency and dignity
—John Buchan

3 :the anger and resentment aroused by injury or insult

Many people expressed outrage at the court's decision.

See outrage defined for English-language learners

See outrage defined for kids

Examples of outrage in a Sentence

Many people expressed outrage at the court's decision.
Public outrage over the scandal was great.
The rule is an outrage against women.
This is an outrage! I won't allow this kind of behavior to continue.

Recent Examples of outrage from the Web

The revelation fueled public outrage that contributed to Ms. Rousseff’s ouster last year.

— ernesto londoÑo, New York Times, "A Judge’s Bid to Clean Up Brazil From the Bench," 25 Aug. 2017
Confederate generals are not the only statues causing public outrage in the United States.

— stephen kenny, Smithsonian, "Will Statues of a Doctor Who Experimented on Enslaved People Come Down Next?," 23 Aug. 2017
For political scientists, the ascendance of Donald Trump has served as a sort of modern-day Milgram experiment, with the loyalty of the president’s supporters constantly tested by ever more painful betrayals and outrages.

— bess levin, vanityfair.com, "Can the White House Buy Its Way Out of Trump’s Neo-Nazi Problem?," 21 Aug. 2017
For political scientists, the ascendance of Donald Trump has served as a sort of modern-day Milgram experiment, with the loyalty of the president’s supporters constantly tested by ever more painful betrayals and outrages.

— bess levin, The Hive, "Can the White House Buy Its Way Out of Trump’s Neo-Nazi Problem?," 21 Aug. 2017
Reynaud accused the British of being too subdued in their expressions of outrage against Leopold and the Belgians, and Churchill, desperate to keep France in the war, finally gave in to the French premier’s arm-twisting.

— Longreads, "Whose Fault Was Dunkirk?," 7 Aug. 2017
Nonetheless, critics took to Twitter to express their outrage.

— alyssa hardy, Teen Vogue, "Chris Evans Slammed for Letting His Son Wear a Tutu," 7 Aug. 2017
Faced with public outrage, Mr Modi ordered a far harder response than usual, sending commando teams into Pakistan.

— The Economist, "Hissing cousinsWhy India and Pakistan hate each other," 22 July 2017
The woman's subsequent arrest triggered global outrage, and officials announced Wednesday that she had been released without charges.

— rick noack, Washington Post, "Saudi prince arrested on King Salman’s order after video appears to show abusive behavior," 20 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'outrage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of outrage

Middle English, from Anglo-French utrage, outrage insult, excess, from outre, utre beyond, from Latin ultra — more at ultra-

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First Known Use: 14th century

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outrage Synonyms

Synonyms

affront, barb, brickbat, cut, dart, dig, dis (also diss) [slang], epithet, gird, indignity, name, offense (or offence), insult, personality, poke, put-down, sarcasm, slap, slight, slur

Antonyms

delight, pleasure

Related Words

catcall, gibe (or jibe), jeer, mock, quip, sneer, taunt; abuse, invective, vituperation; disapproval, opprobrium; disgrace, dishonor, shame; attack, criticism, knock, slam, swipe; torment, torture

Near Antonyms

accolade, commendation, compliment; acclaim, applause, praise; adulation, flattery

outrage

verb

Definition of outrage

outraged; outraging

transitive verb

1 a :rape

b :to violate the standards or principles of

he has outraged respectability past endurance
—John Braine

2 :to arouse anger or resentment in usually by some grave offense

was outraged by the accusation

See outrage defined for English-language learners

Examples of outrage in a Sentence

His comments outraged nearly everyone in the room.
the spiteful comment outraged her so much that she's still holding a grudge

Recent Examples of outrage from the Web

Jeanette Rice, Amber Brown’s attorney, said she was outraged by the magistrates’ recommendations.

— justin wm. moyer, Washington Post, "Maryland mom ordered to give breast-fed infant formula at father’s request," 30 Aug. 2017
Adding salt to the wound, this comes just weeks after his attempt to bestow his wife, Brigitte Macron, with an official title and salary as First Lady left many constituents outraged.

— Vogue, "Emmanuel Macron Reportedly Spent More Than $30,000 on Makeup and #MaquillageGate Ensues," 25 Aug. 2017
Trump planned a campaign rally for Tuesday, but those outraged by the president's remarks after violence by white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia, have planned resistance for his Phoenix visit.

— brittney mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "Protests Planned for Trump's Phoenix Campaign Rally," 22 Aug. 2017
Ms. Nooyi spoke with Mary T. Barra, the head of General Motors, Virginia M. Rometty, the chief of IBM, and Rich Lesser, the chief executive of Boston Consulting Group, who were similarly outraged with the president’s response.

— david gelles, landon thomas jr., andrew ross sorkin and kate kelly, New York Times, "Inside the C.E.O. Rebellion Against Trump’s Advisory Councils," 16 Aug. 2017
Angelina Jolie is speaking out about the Vanity Fair profile that outraged people because of alleged cruelty to children.

— laura beck, Cosmopolitan, "Angelina Jolie Responds to Allegations of Child Cruelty in Casting Process for Her Film," 30 July 2017
Swedish radio host Emma Knyckare was outraged that women can't attend events safely.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "Swedish Women Plan 'Man-Free' Music Festival to Prevent Sexual Assault," 5 July 2017
Denham has noted that the reading list, when first publicized, outraged her Democrat friends.

— john sharp, AL.com, "Alabama superintendent says pulling summer reading list was about process, not conservative content," 30 June 2017
People were outraged and shocked at this incredible criminal act.

— veronica hilbring, Essence.com, "Students Flood Positive Messages Over Vandalized Emmett Till Mississippi Landmark," 28 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of outrage

see ¹outrage

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1590

See Words from the same year

outrage Synonyms

Synonyms

affront, dis (also diss) [slang], disrespect, offend, insult, slap, slight, wound

Antonyms

delight, gratify, please

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

Synonym Discussion of outrage

offend, outrage, affront, insult mean to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment. 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 implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

- outraged by their accusations

affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

- deeply affronted by his callousness

insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

- insulted every guest at the party

OUTRAGE Defined for English Language Learners

outrage

play

noun

Definition of outrage for English Language Learners

: extreme anger : a strong feeling of unhappiness because of something bad, hurtful, or morally wrong
: something that hurts people or is morally wrong

outrage

verb

Definition of outrage for English Language Learners

: to make (someone) very angry

OUTRAGE Defined for Kids

outrage

play

noun out·rage \ ˈau̇t-ˌrāj \

Definition of outrage for Students

1 :angry feelings caused by a hurtful, unjust, or insulting act

2 :an act that is hurtful or unjust or shows disrespect for a person's feelings

outrage

verb

Definition of outrage for Students

outraged; outraging

1 :to cause to feel anger or strong resentment

We were outraged by the way we were treated.

2 :to cause to suffer great insult Her words outraged his dignity.

Law Dictionary

outrage

play

noun out·rage \ ˈau̇t-ˌrāj \

legal Definition of outrage

1 :a deeply offensive or violent act

2 :the tort of intentionally inflicting emotional distress

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outrage

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outrage

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outrage

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