umbrage

Synonym Chooser

How is the word umbrage distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of umbrage are dudgeon, huff, offense, pique, and resentment. While all these words mean "an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity," umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

When would dudgeon be a good substitute for umbrage?

Although the words dudgeon and umbrage have much in common, dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

When could huff be used to replace umbrage?

The words huff and umbrage can be used in similar contexts, but huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

When is offense a more appropriate choice than umbrage?

While the synonyms offense and umbrage are close in meaning, offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

When can pique be used instead of umbrage?

The meanings of pique and umbrage largely overlap; however, pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

When might resentment be a better fit than umbrage?

While in some cases nearly identical to umbrage, resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

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 umbrage 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 His ardent critics call him a peddler of dangerous misinformation, taking umbrage at Rogan’s decision to platform fringe voices such as Alex Jones and Milo Yiannopoulos. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025 The two-page memo delivers some bad news for the umbrage machine that churns out grievances that other, less pure conservatives may have missed. Debra J. Saunders, Oc Register, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for umbrage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbrage
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
  • But the anger and radicalization have to be managed by Democratic leaders, if not for the sake of the country, then at least to avoid a political backlash.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Burning anti-establishment anger helped lay the path for his successful 2018 presidential run, with dozens of far-right and conservative lawmakers elected on his coattails.
    Ricardo Brito, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There have been frustrations over how long the process has taken, with the leadership uncertainty further complicated by the exit of CEO Alex Mahon over the summer.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Poor Harriet, a gallery assistant who has been harassed since the pilot, gets the brunt of Laura’s frustration.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And rather than indignation or rage or fury, what comes through in the letters is his sheer amazement at being in this predicament.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
  • But reacting with indignation has not been an option for Lee.
    Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • 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
Noun
  • The creator's exasperation was clear.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • A number of other writers were exasperated by Hornby’s exasperation.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel Hamnet imagined the relationship between the Bard and his spouse as an intimate tale of lust, compromise, joy, resentment, support, and sorrow.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Her plaintive denials on screen are robbed of any credibility by an inescapable sense of overwhelming resentment.
    Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This is the same lineup, full of younger and mostly unproven players, that has kept the Rangers on the fringe of the wild card spot, a point of irritation among fans.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
  • But this line limiter didn’t bleed into my eyes or cause any irritation whatsoever.
    Jessie Quinn, Flow Space, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Umbrage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbrage. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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