outrage

noun out·rage \ ˈau̇t-ˌrāj \

Updated on: 22 May 2018

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

In Florida on Friday, survivors of the school shooting in Parkland took to social media to express outrage and heartbreak in the aftermath of the school shooting in Texas.

— paul j. weber, BostonGlobe.com, "Post-Parkland push for gun control hasn’t gripped Texas yet," 18 May 2018
While cable news channels carried hours of live coverage, survivors of the Feb. 14 attack in Parkland, Fla., took to social media to express grief and outrage.

— juan a. lozano, The Christian Science Monitor, "Texas school shooting draws attention back to student gun control efforts," 18 May 2018
So don't bother looking for any moral outrage or concern because this double standard works just fine.

— mac engel, star-telegram, "Golfer's incident reveals a double standard about domestic violence | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 17 May 2018
Mayor Ted Wheeler's proposal to hire more police officers and a plan to close two community centers was a flashpoint for some residents' outrage.

— gordon r. friedman, OregonLive.com, "Portland council, with business tax hike, OK's $5.1 billion budget," 16 May 2018
India’s nuclear tests, despite first provoking outrage, led to lengthy strategic talks that began to change this sleepy dynamic.

— atman trivedi, The New Republic, "The U.S.-India Relationship Needs Work," 15 May 2018
But what if instead of outrage and indignation, the response was a numb shrug?

— david rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The House That Jack Built': Film Review | Cannes 2018," 15 May 2018
But as questions were raised around the quality of construction at the Sichuan schools and the accuracy of the student death toll, the Chinese government cracked down harshly, provoking outrage.

— nanlin fang and ben westcott, CNN, "A decade on, heartache of deadly Sichuan quake still being felt," 11 May 2018
The case provoked outrage in the town of Vernal, about 170 miles (274 kilometers) east of Salt Lake City.

— Washington Post, "3 men found not guilty of raping girl, 9, as mom smoked meth," 9 May 2018

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-

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

outrage Synonyms

Phrases

slow burn;

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

But the Cohens were outraged at the underlying deal making, which required the United Nations to lift its sanctions against Libya.

— richard sandomir, New York Times, "Daniel Cohen, 82, Dies; Sought Justice for Pan Am Bombing Victims," 9 May 2018
And of course, the settlement outraged many who believe that much of Armstrong’s fortune was utterly ill-gotten.

— bill gifford, Outside Online, "Op-Ed: Did Armstrong Just Crush the U.S. Government?," 20 Apr. 2018
More than 40 years ago this month, MAD Magazine founder William M. Gaines managed to outrage hundreds of his loyal readers, all by barely lifting a finger.

— brian raftery, WIRED, "The Return of MAD Magazine and Its All-New Gang of Idiots," 18 Apr. 2018
Neighbors were outraged at the death of Grimes, who was about to begin ninth grade at Michigan Collegiate in Warren.

— ann zaniewski, Detroit Free Press, "Trooper tases teen on ATV. Police video reveals what happens next.," 11 Apr. 2018
That was enough to outrage the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — more well known by the acronym PETA.

— jordan mcpherson, miamiherald, "This NFL player boasted his big catch in Miami waters. Now, he’s being investigated | Miami Herald," 4 Apr. 2018
At the time, some Google employees were reportedly outraged at the news, and now The New York Times reports the situation has escalated to a formal letter being addressed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

— ron amadeo, Ars Technica, "Google employees revolt, say company should shut down military drone project," 4 Apr. 2018
Several teachers were outraged at the idea of saying anything negative about teachers; others thought bringing up memories might blur the importance of this national discussion.

— leah garchik, San Francisco Chronicle, "Providing weapons to teachers who might have tantrums," 4 Mar. 2018
The only reason this statement was issued is because people were outraged at USAG’s behavior toward Ms. Maroney and her family.

— Vogue, "Aly Raisman Says USA Gymnastics Doesn’t Care About Its Athletes," 17 Jan. 2018

Origin and Etymology of outrage

see ¹outrage

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1590

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

outrage Synonyms

Synonyms

anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, ire, madden, rankle, rile, roil, steam up, tick off;

Antonyms

delight, gratify, please;

Near Antonyms

allay, assuage, relieve;

comfort, console, soothe;

appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate;

calm, lull, quiet, settle;

beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, disarm, enchant;

antagonize, embitter, envenom;

Phrases

get one's goat, rub the wrong way;

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

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

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

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

Definition of outrage

Examples of outrage in a Sentence

Recent Examples of outrage from the Web

Origin and Etymology of outrage

outrage Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

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Synonym Discussion of outrage

OUTRAGE Defined for English Language Learners

outrage

Definition of outrage for English Language Learners

outrage

Definition of outrage for English Language Learners

OUTRAGE Defined for Kids

outrage

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outrage

Definition of outrage for Students

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outrage

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