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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

The liberal list of Republican offenses is long—so long, indeed, that the outrages blur. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Many politicians have either seized on the outrage or scrambled to shield themselves from the growing anger. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Verb

In Miami, Mayor Carlos Alvarez was recalled and overwhelmingly voted out of office in 2011 due to outrage over his public funding of a controversial new Marlins stadium. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026 Bigger, Longer & Uncut, in which the flatulent Canadian comedians Terrance and Phillip outrage the parents of South Park with their foul-mouthed hit comedy Asses of Fire. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outrage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for outrage

Noun

He was subsequently dismissed by Dior and, months later, found guilty by a French court of making public insults based on origin, religion, race, or ethnicity.

— Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026
The arrest came after Kelley Wolf had reportedly made a series of hostile social media posts, which featured insults and allegations against various friends and family, including her ex-husband, Wolf.

— Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of insult

Verb

Goebel later emphasized that the maze was not meant to endorse everything Kirk said or did, nor dismiss concerns from people offended by some of his remarks.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Here’s what to bring, when to show up and how to ask for a better price without offending the person who grew your dinner.

— Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of offend

Verb

Sánchez is facing mounting scrutiny amid a prolonged humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, where the flood of thousands of migrants has angered residents in the tiny community, which is ill-equipped to handle such an influx.

— Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Prosecutors argued Monday that Kading’s disclosures angered Davis.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of anger

Noun

The other presidents had some semblance of comedic appreciation, whether through cynicism, irony, sarcasm, joke-telling, joke appreciation or storytelling.

— John Blumenthal, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Like all of Roth’s content, there is a mix of dead seriousness, dry sarcasm, and wondrous joy in equal measure.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of sarcasm

Noun

Even among the worldliest of us, an unexpected roundabout can trigger a fireworks-and-bald-eagles display of patriotic rage.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Pushing boundaries for new radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceuticals are all the rage in some biotech circles, but some voices of caution are saying slow down.

— Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of rage

Verb

The White House’s abrupt decision last week to ease tariffs on 300,000 metric tons — more than 660 million pounds — of foreign beef imports has infuriated American cattle ranchers and congressional Republicans alike.

— Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
The heated rhetoric has infuriated and astonished most Canadians; in a recent poll, seventy-six per cent supported the decision of the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, to walk away from trade talks with Washington.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of infuriate

Noun

Hollywood can forgive a lot, but being beaten by ‘CatVideoFest’ is the sort of indignity that writes its own punchline.

— Christina Dugan Ramirez , Ashley Papa , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Moreover, because the Sears catalog did not racially discriminate, economic historians credit the catalog as a major tool for Black consumers to side-step the indignities and discrimination of Jim Crow commerce.

— Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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