OUTRAGE Synonyms: 228 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'outrage' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of outrage are affront , insult , and offend . While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings. // outraged by their accusations

Q: When can 'affront' be used instead of 'outrage'?

While in some cases nearly identical to outrage , affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy. // deeply affronted by his callousness

Q: In what contexts can 'insult' take the place of 'outrage'?

The words insult and outrage can be used in similar contexts, but insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame. // insulted every guest at the party

Q: When is 'offend' a more appropriate choice than 'outrage'?

In some situations, the words offend and outrage are roughly equivalent. However, offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting. // hoped that my remarks had not offended her

outrage 1 of 2

noun

ˈau̇t-ˌrāj

Definition of outrage

as in insult

an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings the booing during the graduation speech was an outrage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in indignation

an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something the actress could barely contain her outrage at being passed over for an Oscar yet again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

outrage

2 of 2

verb

as in to insult

to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in the spiteful comment outraged her so much that she's still holding a grudge

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to anger

to make angry the vandalism in the cemetery outraged the entire community we were outraged to discover that we had been overcharged for our hotel room

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word outrage distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of outrage are affront, insult, and offend. While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

When can affront be used instead of outrage?

While in some cases nearly identical to outrage, affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

In what contexts can insult take the place of outrage?

The words insult and outrage can be used in similar contexts, but insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

When is offend a more appropriate choice than outrage?

In some situations, the words offend and outrage are roughly equivalent. However, offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting.

hoped that my remarks had not offended her

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 outrage

Noun

Congress took up the measure this week in the waning legislative days before November’s midterm elections, and as outrage over the proliferation of artificial intelligence data centers have grown nationwide. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026 Brown has attempted to make data centers central to the race, an issue that has seen bipartisan outrage in communities across the country. — Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

When police officers in Oklahoma admitted to using electro-shock gloves to subdue two students over the 2025-2026 school year, the community was rightfully outraged. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026 Addiction medicine doctors were outraged by the methadone system, too. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outrage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for outrage

Noun

Those who drive past our protests and yell insults or flip us the bird are to be pitied.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
The billboards made Angelyne famous for being famous when that phrase was still an insult.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of insult

Noun

Cancer Rising September begins with you very much waking up on the wrong side of the bed, but your indignation might just be the thing that saves you in the end.

— Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
On cue, China expressed indignation about anti-missile deployments.

— Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of indignation

Verb

Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is standing just steps away from the mayor at the ceremony, said that Mamdani’s presence would offend him.

— Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
For that, their game — analyzing randomness and violence and doing so without offending our intelligence — has become as important to the American audience as The Game.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of offend

Verb

But Trump’s solution, to import 300,000 metric tons of beef and sell it at a reduced cost, angered American ranchers.

— Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Rebecca regrets angering Matthijs (Matteo van der Grijn) after putting his daughter in the middle of a heated discussion around the possibility of Matthijs moving to London.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of anger

Noun

But when Emma never shows up to their meeting, Pao and Dante will have to go on an epic quest— filled with awkward moments, sarcasm, and somewhat reluctant friendships—to save their best friend.

— Kavya Dhillon, Parents, 19 Sep. 2026
His teammates see his personality, his ability to laugh at himself, his sarcasm, his dry wit.

— Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of sarcasm

Noun

Right now, sensory toys are all the rage, so consider adding these $7 squishy toys to your cart.

— Anja Webb, Parents, 15 Sep. 2026
This was right in the peak of Elon Musk’s reconstruction of Twitter, privileging rage bait and engagement tactics that helped misinformation disseminate like fact.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of rage

Noun

And since Bob hasn’t managed to elevate his station in the last 26 years, suffering the indignity of dealing with a much younger boss (Blake Anderson), his desperation is understandable.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
Ireland agonizingly captures the everyday indignities and legal roadblocks that survivors may encounter.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of indignity

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outracing

outrage

outraged

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“Outrage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outrage. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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