affront 1 of 2

Definition of affrontnext

affront

2 of 2

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

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
Staff mistakes, changes, and challenges are all experienced as a personal affront to the leader. Blair Glaser, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026 Klæbo’s rabid climb was almost sinister, a Newtonian affront against gravity and the native difficulty of hills. Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
At one point, I felt genuinely affronted when the edge of my pinky brushed gently on the wall. Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 27 Aug. 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 See All Example Sentences for affront
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affront
Noun
  • Cyrus said, with the two characters throwing insults at each other constantly.
    Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Droves of supporters commended a thoughtful gesture that, elsewhere on the internet, went over like an insult.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Prosecutors said messages in the group chat along with the fact that the Pawula sent the texts to Rita, Chad Salefski and other family and friends of Rita and Salefski showed they were intended to offend the two political candidates.
    Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
  • For a man behind a franchise that’s known for platforming outspoken women, Andy Cohen sure seems offended by Sarah Michelle Gellar‘s criticism of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
  • His answer came with a side helping of sarcasm.
    John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Larry Calderone, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, the city’s largest police union, said last week that he was outraged by the manslaughter charge filed against O’Malley.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The bases outraged Osama bin Laden and contributed to all those years of terrorist attacks against Americans.
    Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Affront.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affront. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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