Synonyms of affront

affront 1 of 2

noun

as in insult

an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings

took it as an affront that she wasn't invited to say a few words at the ribbon-cutting ceremony

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insult
• sarcasm
• outrage
• indignity
• slap
• disgrace
• attack
• offense
• epithet
• slight
• slur
• name
• barb
• personality
• dart
• dis
• poke
• brickbat
• criticism
• put-down
• taunt
• shame
• abuse
• dig
• cut
• sneer
• gird
• mock
• gibe
• disapproval
• vituperation
• invective
• jeer
• dishonor
• quip
• opprobrium
• catcall
• torture
• swipe
• knock
• torment
• slam

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compliment
• praise
• commendation
• applause
• acclaim
• accolade
• flattery
• adulation

affront

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈfrənt 

as in to insult

to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in

did not mean to affront you when I told you I didn't need your help

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insult
• offend
• outrage
• disrespect
• wound
• taunt
• slap
• upset
• displease
• hurt
• slight
• disturb
• trouble
• mock
• dis
• pain
• distress
• ridicule
• snub
• disparage
• libel
• torment
• slander
• jeer
• torture
• malign
• revile
• defame
• oppress
• slur
• smear
• sneer (at)
• cut
• persecute
• miff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approve
• applaud
• commend
• compliment
• hail
• acclaim
• praise
• honor
• eulogize
• flatter
• exalt
• please
• delight
• satisfy
• gratify
• glorify
• adulate
• sweet-talk

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

Recent Examples of affront

Noun

Cusk’s final affront to the novel is to disaggregate it into unreconciled elements without making any concession to cohesion. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Medusa is raped by Poseidon, but because Poseidon raped her in Athena’s temple, Athena takes it as an affront and blames Medusa, cursing her by turning her hair into snakes. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 27 July 2026

Verb

Thinking about it that way invests meaning in an anecdote Norris related about a member of the copy department so affronted by something a colleague had done that she was inspired to pick up an object and hurl it in that colleague’s general direction. — Ben Yagoda, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

Attention also has centered on, among other things, the misuse of AI, deepfakes, hallucinations, AI’s effect on jobs, and safeguarding values that certain AI applications might affront. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025

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