outrage

verb

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

Synonyms of outrage

• insult
• offend

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Tormented by the femicide and outraged by the indifference of the police and justice system, Laura decides to take matters into her own hands. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026

Its realignment outraged Russia and put a target on its back as one of the West’s easternmost bulwarks against Moscow’s sphere of influence. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026

Several Boston police officers showed up to court Thursday, outraged by the charge. —Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 4 June 2026

Waldorf and her family were outraged by the ordeal. —Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for outrage

• assuage
• backstage
• bocage
• downstage
• engage
• enrage
• leafage
• messuage
• offstage
• onstage
• pelage
• prophage

Kids Definition

outrage

1 of 2 noun

out·​rage ˈau̇t-ˌrāj 

1

: a violent or brutal act

2

: an act that hurts someone or shows disrespect for a person's feelings

3

: the angry feelings caused by injury or insult

outrage

2 of 2 verb

outraged; outraging

1

: to cause to suffer violent injury or abuse

2

: to cause to feel anger or resentment

Etymology

from early French outrage "an act of violence or brutality" from outre "beyond" (from Latin ultra "beyond") and -age "action"

Legal Definition

outrage

noun

out·​rage ˈau̇t-ˌrāj 

1

: a deeply offensive or violent act

2

: the tort of intentionally inflicting emotional distress