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
  • But to propose trading him for anything short of a fourth-round pick is insulting.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Afterward, Lisa brags about her pickpocketing skills and says theft is easier and less insulting to the mark.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of insulting
Verb
  • Interestingly, there is no statistically detectable difference in offending rates before college, suggesting the future fraternity members weren’t always fundamentally different in their behavior.
    — Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • What that means is that drone hunter just locked on to the offending drone.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of offending
Adjective
  • And the scant records around the outrageous boondoggle that poured more than $1 billion into a hellhole immigrant-detention camp in the Everglades point to him as the key engineer.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Kate currently lives in the wilds of Connecticut with her husband, two sons, and a truly outrageous number of pets.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of outrageous
Verb
  • The Hitlerite hordes are murdering and outraging the peaceful inhabitants of our country, having no mercy on women, children or old people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • 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
  • Coach James acknowledged the Yellow Jackets should’ve knelt the ball during its final offensive possession.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The Packers, missing All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons and a flurry of their own offensive linemen, move to 5-3.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of offensive
Adjective
  • Advocates Against Family Violence in Canyon County is available at 208-459-4779 for anyone in need of help or shelter in an abusive relationship.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Animal rights activists have argued in favor of banning the industry for more than two decades, calling the work dangerous and inherently abusive to the equines.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of abusive
Adjective
  • Officers charged 36-year-old Quinto Owens with two counts of felony indecent liberties against a student by a school administrator.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026
  • He has been charged with murder, two counts of indecent behavior involving a minor, and concealing a corpse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2026.

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