affronting 1 of 2

adjective

as in insulting

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affronting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of affront
as in offending
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 affronting
Adjective
But the pop culture of twelve years ago is baffling, uncanny, affronting. — Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affronting
  1. insulting
  2. offending
  3. outrageous
  4. outraging
  5. offensive
  6. abusive
  7. indecent
  8. vituperative
Adjective
  • Considering there were only 33 appearances this past season, such Heat prudence hardly could be viewed as insulting.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2026
  • What Florence has been doing is consistent and insulting.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Definition of insulting
Verb
  • The escalation should start with a warning from the chair, followed by a motion of the board of censure (asking the owner to quiet down), followed by a motion to eject the offending owner from the meeting.
    — Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
  • Slow-motion replays and still images distort the offending player’s actions, with innocuous tackles looking more serious.
    — Tom Bogert, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of offending
Adjective
  • Watch crafty servant Scapin spin outrageous webs of disguise and deception to help a band of young lovers outwit their impossibly miserly fathers.
    — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • In addition, their style of play makes broad use of their outrageous attacking options, virtually guaranteeing a supply of chances for a player who can score almost any type of goal from anywhere in the attacking third.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of outrageous
Verb
  • On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.
    — Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of outraging
Adjective
  • Aguirre removed Quiñones in favor or taller options, but Mexico never recovered from the loss of offensive creativity.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The Mets, being one of the worst offensive teams in baseball, don’t often come back from large deficits.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
Definition of offensive
Adjective
  • Aggression is the norm A common misconception is that aggression needs to be physical before it’s considered abusive, but that’s not always the case.
    — Mark Travers, CNBC, 5 July 2026
  • The union did not give specific examples of abusive incidents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of abusive
Adjective
  • In the before-times, leaving the house with naked nails would be as indecent as walking around in the buff.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • Morris pleaded guilty in October last year in Oklahoma to five counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child.
    — Giles Hudson, CBS News, 24 June 2026
Definition of indecent
Adjective
  • In Maine, Graham Platner — who, like Avila Chevalier, had a vituperative social media history — easily defeated the state’s governor, Janet Mills, for the Senate nomination.
    — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 June 2026
  • The Irish comedy writer has become better known for his assertion that trans women are men and criticism of trans activism, expressed in often vituperative social media posts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Definition of vituperative

Browse Nearby Words

affronted
affronting
affronts
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Cite this Entry

“Affronting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affronting. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on affronting

Nglish: Translation of affronting for Spanish Speakers

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