indignant
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of indignant
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin indignant- (stem of indignāns, present participle of indignārī “to deem unworthy, take offense”), equivalent to in- in- 3 + dign-, stem of dignus “worthy” + -ant- -ant
Explanation
When you're indignant, you're angry about an unfair situation. If you discovered that a teacher gave ten extra points on a test to all students who sat in the front row, you'd be indignant. Indignant is from Latin indignus "unworthy," and it refers to anger based on unworthy or unfair behavior rather than merely injury to one's own interests. You may be angry, even furious, if someone shoves you, but you are indignant if the shove is directed at someone weak or helpless. The related noun is indignation, and something that arouses indignation is an indignity.
Vocabulary lists containing indignant
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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The Outsiders
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But writer-director Michael J. Weithorn’s feature is at the same time a catalog of senior-oriented issues and crises: Indignant offspring.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025
Indignant from the first sentence, the piece builds to a crescendo that puts a perennial strand of American toxicity firmly in the crosshairs:
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2024
Indignant that her filet de bœuf is not à point as requested, but most definitely saignant.
From Salon • Aug. 30, 2022
Indignant all-staff emails or notes left on the fridge are another common—and generally equally ineffective—avenue.
From Slate • Oct. 6, 2019
Indignant, Bigwig made his way to the mouth of the hole.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
