Meaning & use
indignant
Last updated
UK/ɪnˈdɪɡ.nənt/
US/ɪnˈdɪɡ.nənt/
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Angry and offended because something seems unfair or insulting.
Grammar: Often followed by at, about, or over: indignant at the accusation.
Patterns
- indignant at something
- indignant about something
- indignant that something happens
She was indignant at the suggestion that she had cheated.
The customers grew indignant over the long delay.
He wrote an indignant letter to the editor.
Word forms
| comparative | more indignant |
|---|---|
| superlative | most indignant |
Common combinations
- indignant at
- He was indignant at the unfair ruling.
- indignant tone
- She replied in an indignant tone.
- indignant letter
- Readers sent indignant letters to the paper.
- feel indignant
- I felt indignant when they blamed me.
Synonyms and how they differ
- outraged
- Outraged is stronger and implies shock at something truly wrong.
- resentful
- Resentful describes lasting bitterness, whereas indignant is a reaction in the moment.
- angry
- Angry has any cause, while indignant requires a sense of being wronged.
Opposites
Word family
- indignation noun
- anger at unfair treatment
- indignantly adverb
- in an offended, angry way
Practice
The waiter was ___ when the guest accused him of overcharging.
Choose one answer.
Indignant means angry at being treated unfairly. Indifferent, indulgent, and indecisive have different meanings that do not fit a false accusation.
Make it your own
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