indignation
Americannoun
noun
Synonym Usage
See anger.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of indignation
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English indignacio(u)n, from Latin indignātiōn-, stem of indignātiō “anger, displeasure,” from indignāt(us) “deemed unworthy, scorned” (past participle of indignārī “to deem unworthy, take offense”; see indignant) + -iō -ion
Explanation
Call your anger at an unjust situation indignation. If recess gets canceled for everyone because two students get into a fight, the rest of the student body will respond with indignation. Indignation traces back to the Latin prefix in- "not" and root dignus "worthy" and means anger at something that is unfair or unjust. Another word for indignation is outrage. Be careful using these words as they have a bit of a negative slant. A person who feels indignation is a little self-righteous and focused on not being treated the way he feels he should be.
Vocabulary lists containing indignation
Of Mice and Men
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Animal Farm
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Refugee
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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.
Indignation spread into South Carolina, where Biden scored a commanding victory in the first-in-the-nation Democratic primary on Feb. 3, which was designed by his campaign to project clear strength.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024
Indignation is not the only element in this series, which takes its style from Russian constructivism and its two-color scheme from the Risograph, a Japanese duplicating machine.
From Washington Post • Feb. 11, 2022
Indignation was easy to find but hard to fully express in 2017, but no record, save maybe Protomartyr's "Relatives in Descent," said it better than this rant-and-rhythm record from Nottingham, England.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2017
Indignation occasionally creeps into her voice, as if she’s spent years preaching to an obstinate child who never matures.
From Washington Times • Sep. 1, 2017
Indignation, rage, indecision, agitation and much more crossed his face in rapid succession.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
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.
