affront

[ uh-fruhnt ]

See synonyms for: affront affronted affronting on Thesaurus.com

noun

a personally offensive act or word; deliberate act or display of disrespect; intentional slight; insult: an affront to the king.
an offense to one's dignity or self-respect.

verb (used with object)

to offend by an open manifestation of disrespect or insolence: His speech affronted all of us.
to make ashamed or confused; embarrass.

Archaic. to front; face; look on.
Obsolete. to meet or encounter face to face; confront.

Origin of affront

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English afrounten, from Middle French af(f)ronter “to strike in the face,” from unattested Vulgar Latin affrontāre, derivative of Latin phrase ad frontem “at or toward the forehead” (as the seat of one's feelings or dignity). See ad-, front

synonym study For affront

1. See insult.

Other words for affront

1	impertinence; contumely, scorn; indignity, abuse, outrage
3	insult, slight, abuse

See synonyms for affront on Thesaurus.com

Other words from affront

af·front·ed·ly, adverb
af·front·ed·ness, noun
af·front·er, noun
af·front·ing·ly, adverb
re·af·front, noun, verb (used with object)
un·af·front·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use affront in a sentence

Meanwhile, a new generation of “wolf warrior” diplomats peddle conspiracy theories and lash out at perceived affronts.
How Jin Liqun Charted an Independent Course for China's Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank | Charlie Campbell / Beijing | February 19, 2021 | Time
“It’s an outright affront to the government in its entirety,” says Antaeus Edelsohn, a University of Richmond law student and vexillology enthusiast.
Decoding the flags and banners seen at the Capitol Hill insurrection | Amanda Shendruk | January 7, 2021 | Quartz
Every executive order is a tyrannical affront to the Constitution.
How Democrats should wage war on coming GOP obstructionism | Paul Waldman | November 30, 2020 | Washington Post
Spears’s slick, breezy pop was an affront to rockist sensibilities, and claiming that Spears was fake was an easy way to dismiss her.
Why Britney Spears’s fans are convinced she’s being held captive | Constance Grady | November 11, 2020 | Vox
Soldera comes across like that uncle who, once affronted, crosses you off forever.
Brunello’s King Lear: Gianfranco Soldera Reflects on the Attack on His Wine | Alice Feiring | December 8, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

Indeed, when his Democratic opponent challenged his pro-choice bona fides, he acted affronted.
Romney’s Weird Abortion Gamble | Michelle Goldberg | June 24, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
Not only was he annoyed, but he considered himself affronted by what seemed to him an unjust criticism.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste Tchaikovsky
And now you blame me,” cried I, “because I canna laugh and sing as if I was glad to be affronted.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 10 (of 25) | Robert Louis Stevenson
At my first appearance, many of the young members affronted me highly, and demanded several scurrilous questions.
Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport Adams
Joan, affronted by the savage impertinence, met her eyes defiantly, not giving an inch before the unexpected charge.
The Flockmaster of Poison Creek | George W. Ogden
Into Natalie Weymans darkening eyes flared an expression of affronted surprise.
Marjorie Dean College Freshman | Pauline Lester

British Dictionary definitions for affront

affront

/ (əˈfrʌnt) /

noun

a deliberate insult

verb(tr)

to insult, esp openly
to offend the pride or dignity of

obsolete to confront defiantly

Origin of affront

C14: from Old French afronter to strike in the face, from Vulgar Latin affrontāre (unattested), from the Latin phrase ad frontem to the face

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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