Synonym Chooser

How does the noun indignation differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of indignation are anger, fury, ire, rage, and wrath. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

When can anger be used instead of indignation?

The synonyms anger and indignation are sometimes interchangeable, but anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When could ire be used to replace indignation?

The words ire and indignation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

How are the words rage and fury related as synonyms of indignation?

Both rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

When is it sensible to use wrath instead of indignation?

While the synonyms wrath and indignation are close in meaning, wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge.

I feared her wrath if I was discovered

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 indignation Some Trump allies have expressed skepticism — and at times outright indignation — at the idea of the U.S. involved in another conflict in the Middle East, while others have offered wholehearted support. Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 18 June 2025 The claims have reverberated across the political spectrum, stirring both indignation and introspection within the Democratic Party. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025 Daley huffed and puffed with red-faced indignation, even threatening a lawsuit over the intent of an NFL team to whisk Chicago’s proud name off to the northwest suburbs and stomp into suburban soil. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025 The Austrian government responded with indignation, claiming that the Americans had given them no notice. Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for indignation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indignation
Noun
  • For those on the fringes of the fan protest, maintaining the anger to rally against those in charge probably becomes harder in those circumstances.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
  • This disclosure has sparked further anger from Trump supporters and victims' advocates, who believe the administration is withholding key details.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • After a two-year spike during the pandemic and national outrage over police accountability, Chicago began to see a decline in homicides in 2022.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
  • And starting in 2026, the commission won’t be forced to sit through lengthy meetings fueled by outrage.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In reaction to the report, Trump erupted in fury on Tuesday, lambasting Goldman CEO David Solomon and, without naming him, Hatzius.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Jacob Anderson tears into the undead flesh of the enemies who murdered his daughter, channeling his pain and fury into a series of increasingly gruesome vampiric assassinations.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The episode also teases Cartman’s wrath at Bebe, another student at South Park Elementary.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 29 July 2025
  • Countries that didn’t knuckle under — and those that found other ways to incur Trump’s wrath — got hit harder.
    Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Rainmaker is a taut thriller driven by relentless cynicism toward the state of the legal profession and simmering rage at the state of the health insurance industry.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
  • As protests rage at home, Iran's theocratic government is increasingly flexing its military muscle abroad.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The seating defines the mood of the space—and these need to be as comfy as possible to enjoy your at-home big screen cramp-free.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2025
  • There was a mood of expectancy mingled with apprehension, and a sense of the audience holding its collective breath.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Indignation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indignation. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on indignation

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