dudgeon

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dudgeon distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of dudgeon are huff, offense, pique, resentment, and umbrage. While all these words mean "an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity," dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

When would huff be a good substitute for dudgeon?

The words huff and dudgeon are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

When could offense be used to replace dudgeon?

Although the words offense and dudgeon have much in common, offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

When is it sensible to use pique instead of dudgeon?

The synonyms pique and dudgeon are sometimes interchangeable, but pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

Where would resentment be a reasonable alternative to dudgeon?

The words resentment and dudgeon can be used in similar contexts, but resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

In what contexts can umbrage take the place of dudgeon?

The meanings of umbrage and dudgeon largely overlap; however, umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

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 dudgeon Beck is in a state of high dudgeon, because there’s a big shipment due and two of his drivers are AWOL. Chris Klimek, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025 Close’s game, canny performance of reliving her own past couldn’t quite obscure the ungainliness of some of Webber’s songs, the dudgeon and occasional monotony of the sung-through score, or the strain of trying to generate plot friction in a story with only four major characters. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024 Instead, the high dudgeon now heard in Tennant’s fey voice gives too much weight to the smugness of group-thinkers. Armond White, National Review, 18 Sep. 2024 Truth Social, meanwhile, is its own, strange creature: a social media platform born out of Donald Trump’s dudgeon at being banned from Facebook and Twitter due to his posts on those platforms. Samanth Subramanian, Quartz, 23 Mar. 2024 But some Angelenos took their picket signs and their dudgeon to City Hall. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2023 Dederer is at her best on such complicities—her own fondness for assholes, our cultural fascination with monsters—and less convincing when in a dudgeon, or deploying her feelings and experiences as intellectual credentials. Laura Kipnis, The New Republic, 5 May 2023 But the movement is flummoxed now that its style of one-way dialogue and high-dudgeon shaming is provoking sharp backlash from illiberal strongmen, right-wing populists, and the mass constituencies that support these strongmen around the globe. Jack Snyder, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dudgeon
Noun
  • Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Getty Images To date, the post has amassed more than 900 comments from TikTok viewers, many of them poking fun at the golden retriever mother's annoyed expression and shallow huffs.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • In the wake of a transfer deadline that brought anger and worry from many supporters, the Wolves chairman gave an interview of more than half an hour to the club’s in-house television channel.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Others echo the same sentiment, stressing that his anger is more than understandable.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • When big gatherings of police and federal agents suddenly show up in residential areas, crowds often meet them with cell phone cameras, righteous indignation and insults.
    Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Seven chapters in descending order structure the movie’s story as a countdown of hiccups, indignations, and even a hallucination, a day each in a pivotal week that will determine Teresa’s destiny.
    Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Despite taking umbrage at PSR seeming to put a ceiling on their ambitions, Villa have consistently spent between 80 and 90 per cent in recent years — far more than the UEFA recommendation of 70 per cent.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Critics have said Trump conceded too much to Putin and took umbrage with the talks ending without an agreement.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • As the Supreme Court increasingly shows frustration with the overreach of lower court judges, the justices could be motivated to take up cases more quickly on matters where lower courts are ignoring their emergency docket orders, such as with the firing of independent agency heads.
    Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Advocates expressed frustration, emphasizing the need for comfortable and safe air travel for all passengers.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • A number of other writers were exasperated by Hornby’s exasperation.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
  • After answering five questions in front of his locker on Thursday night — all of which circled around the topic of his future with the Carolina Panthers — Hunter Renfrow laughed in faux exasperation.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • That’s enough to pique studios’ interest.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Hobert wanted to pique listeners’ interest.
    Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dudgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dudgeon. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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