Umbrage is a word born in the shadows. Its ultimate source (and that of umbrella) is Latin umbra, meaning “shade, shadow,” and when it was first used in the 15th century it referred to exactly that. But figurative use followed relatively quickly. Shakespeare wrote of Hamlet that "his semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more,” and by the 17th century this meaning of “vague suggestion; hint,” had been joined by other uses, including the “feeling of resentment or offense” heard today in such sentences as “many took umbrage at the speaker’s tasteless jokes.” The word’s early literal use is not often encountered, though it does live on in literature: for example, in her 1849 novel, Charlotte Brontë describes how the titular Shirley would relax “at the foot of some tree of friendly umbrage.”
huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.
in a huff he slammed the door
Examples of umbrage in a Sentence
took umbrage at the slightest suggestion of disrespect
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Rowling took umbrage with Watson’s comments, specifically her hope that Rowling will still love her.—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 29 Sep. 2025 The author incorrectly attributed a quote to Kirk to portray him as a racist, a fact with which the vice president took particular umbrage.—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2025 Move too quickly, and the die-hards who flock to Fox News and Fox Sports will take umbrage.—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 15 Sep. 2025 That Carroll took such umbrage only increased Harbaugh’s smile, making for a better story.—Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for umbrage
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin umbraticum, neuter of umbraticus of shade, from umbratus, past participle of umbrare to shade, from umbra shade, shadow; akin to Lithuanian unksmė shadow
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