miffed
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of miffed
Explanation
When you're miffed, you're offended or annoyed. It would be hard not to feel miffed if your entire family forgot your birthday. The informal miffed is great for describing a feeling of irritation or impatience. Your teacher might be miffed if you keep showing up late to class, and you'll feel equally miffed if he doesn't believe your excuse that the bus is always late. Miffed came along in the early nineteenth century, from miff, "fit of ill humor," which is probably imitative of the disgusted sound you might make when you're fed up or offended.
Vocabulary lists containing miffed
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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Red Kayak
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Chomp
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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.
"We started making shots," said Durant, a two-time NBA champion who launched his career with the Thunder franchise and heard boos from fans still miffed by his departure more than nine years ago.
From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026
The same people showering Triple H with unprintable language were likely a little bit miffed to see Cena win his inevitable third, eighth or fifteenth championship.
From Salon • Dec. 14, 2025
Michael Crow, the outspoken longtime leader of Arizona State University, was miffed he hadn’t been approached.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025
Paloma Faith may have been miffed at Cat Burns, but it appears her real beef is with Alan Carr, as he is her friend in real life.
From BBC • Oct. 18, 2025
Hooke, an older and well-established scientist, was decidedly miffed at receiving less credit from the young whipper-snapper than he thought he was due, and said as much to his friends.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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.
