affront 1 of 2

affront

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word affront distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of affront are insult, offend, and outrage. While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

When is it sensible to use insult instead of affront?

While the synonyms insult and affront are close in meaning, insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

When can offend be used instead of affront?

Although the words offend and affront have much in common, 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

In what contexts can outrage take the place of affront?

The synonyms outrage and affront are sometimes interchangeable, but outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of affront
Noun
But the real affront is his invocation of his predecessor’s name as a shorthand for the worst possible outcome for his own bad habits. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 20 May 2025 Daily Mail’s ‘reporting’ is an affront to journalism. Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 21 May 2025
Verb
There needs to be a very direct conversation about standards and a hard dose of affronting honesty. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025 The two women, initially welcomed, soon affront their hosts with their pesky independence of mind and spirit. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for affront
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affront
Noun
  • Under it, anyone who defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, heir apparent, or regent faces three to 15 years in prison.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 26 June 2025
  • To suggest that the lawsuit is a look into the past insults understatement, and in the process calls into question the worth of the FTC.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • That outcome would be one that offends genuine common sense.
    Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 20 June 2025
  • Still, the project might offend fans, especially since the affected films feature beloved martial arts performed by legendary actors, along with practical, old school stunts.
    Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • This move outraged Figgers as well as some DeSantis appointees to the Broward School Board.
    Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2025
  • The foundation’s failure to build a memorial outraged some victim families who questioned its spending decisions and operations.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • But behind the sarcasm is the uncomfortable truth: today's kids are hyper-aware of how they're perceived.
    Annabelle Canela, Parents, 9 June 2025
  • Tagging emotional tone or contextual nuance, like sarcasm in reviews or urgency in support tickets, can usefully train models to understand human subtext.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Affront.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affront. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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