indignant
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word 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.
Christophe, a 47-year-old carpenter and former Yellow Vest protester who did not give his surname, said he was indignant after seeing what he viewed as police brutality against teenagers in recent weeks.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
In two videos Van Orden posted to X and “Made with Grok Imagine,” X’s proprietary AI tool, depict Cooke as an indignant red duck.
From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026
The irony is not lost on Buam-dong's indignant residents.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
It’s an indignant question, one she’s asked herself repeatedly this past year, a time of “total shock” during which she and her husband found themselves in the wilderness instead of the White House.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
Cecilia asked innocently, her face twisted into an indignant expression that was too fake to be effective.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
