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
  • Lloyd evaded a diving Mahomes, Kareem Hunt and a streaking Tyquan Thornton for a huff-and-puff 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Our hero is also being coveted by a crime boss, and as he gets pulled further and further into this world, Farrell has to show his inner violence and anger breaking through.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Symptoms can include memory loss, impulse control problems, anxiety, depression and anger issues.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This explains the indignation of those carrying college debt who demanded Joe Biden make their loans go away.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
  • No one should forget that songs and lyrics, especially during dark and troubled times, can create awareness, be used to arouse indignation, even bring about social change.
    Ray Rahman, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Owensboro citizens continued to take umbrage to the ways in which they were being portrayed in the national press.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Yet having steered The Reds to the fourth round of a gruelling qualification process that began in October 2023, Queiroz has taken umbrage with the AFC’s unexplained decision to stage the two mini-groups in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the previous and upcoming World Cup hosts respectively.
    Jack Bantock, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • With appointment supporters in the majority, Canepa expressed frustration.
    Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Now, Kiya Tomlin’s journey into fashion started with frustration.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Mahama breaks off in exasperation.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Some councilmembers reacted to the extension with exasperation Wednesday.
    Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The same survey found more than half of those who support their parents have incurred debt while providing help, and almost half feel resentment toward their parents because of the financial burden.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The presidents of Colombia and Mexico have criticized the attacks, and others have warned of the resentment in the hemisphere were an intervention to follow.
    Alan McPherson, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • As Zuckerberg in Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning, Strong will be assuming a role that was played with nervy, youthful pique by Jesse Eisenberg back in 2010.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
  • During a climactic confrontation on campus, Maggie, in a pique of outrage, slaps Alma across the face—something that Roberts insisted Edebiri do for real.
    Marley Marius, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dudgeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dudgeon. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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