Synonym Chooser

How does the noun indignation differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of indignation are anger, fury, ire, rage, and wrath. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

When can anger be used instead of indignation?

The synonyms anger and indignation are sometimes interchangeable, but anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When could ire be used to replace indignation?

The words ire and indignation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

How are the words rage and fury related as synonyms of indignation?

Both rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

When is it sensible to use wrath instead of indignation?

While the synonyms wrath and indignation are close in meaning, wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge.

I feared her wrath if I was discovered

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of indignation On Wednesday night, when news of the pending indictment was reported by the Times, but before details of the charges were publicly known, Adams offered the public the same righteous indignation. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2024 Advertisement Americans who have had their run-ins with the health insurance industry, never mind our own inadequate welfare state, won’t have trouble feeling indignation. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024 If pressed, some argue the indignation over the defacement itself betrays how little our culture values the planet when compared to inanimate works of canvas and pigment. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2024 Working with great discipline and with zero timidity, the writer-director is unafraid to provoke feminist indignation by revealing Romy’s complicity in her subjugation. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for indignation 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indignation
Noun
  • The shooting captivated the nation, both for the brutality of the crime and for the anger and frustration many people expressed about the health care insurance system.
    Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
  • That sparked anger from Crimson Tide fans and SEC execs.
    Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • After a two-year spike during the pandemic and national outrage over police accountability, Chicago began to see a decline in homicides in 2022.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Google ‘woke’ Christmas ad sparks outrage: Rising reacts Niall Stanage and Amber Duke weigh in on backlash Google is getting for using a nonbinary influencer in Christmas ad.
    The Hill, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Read: The fury of Chris Rock Rock’s opening monologue last night was playfully deceptive too.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2024
  • In pictures: Hurricane Helene unleashes its fury 1 of 69 There are also models in development combining machine learning with real-world physics — known as hybrid models — that could be the solution to some of these problems.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Many political observers toasted Abe as a geopolitical Trump whisperer who helped shield Japan from his wrath.
    William Pesek, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The leader, who has long faced Beijing’s wrath for championing Taiwan’s sovereignty, used his travel to tout solidarity with likeminded democracies.
    Wayne Chang, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Another incident found the mother taking the phone from her son, which sent the boy into a fit of rage.
    Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The level of rage was a shock that should make billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy think twice before using their non-governmental, Department of Government Efficiency—DOGE— to shred industry regulation rather than reform it.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The mood on Wall Street was generally upbeat about the housing picture.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The Charcuterie Shift Smoked meats and soft cheeses instantly elevate any party, and a Christmas charcuterie board will set the celebratory mood early in the day.
    Rai Mincey, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near indignation

Cite this Entry

“Indignation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indignation. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on indignation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!