umbrage

noun

um·brage ˈəm-brij

Synonyms of umbrage next

: a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult

took umbrage at the speaker's remarks

: shady branches : foliage

: shade, shadow

: an indistinct indication : vague suggestion : hint

: a reason for doubt : suspicion

Did you know?

Umbrage is a word born in the shadows. Its ultimate source (and that of umbrella) is Latin umbra, meaning “shade, shadow,” and when it was first used in the 15th century it referred to exactly that. But figurative use followed relatively quickly. Shakespeare wrote of Hamlet that "his semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more,” and by the 17th century this meaning of “vague suggestion; hint,” had been joined by other uses, including the “feeling of resentment or offense” heard today in such sentences as “many took umbrage at the speaker’s tasteless jokes.” The word’s early literal use is not often encountered, though it does live on in literature: for example, in her 1849 novel, Charlotte Brontë describes how the titular Shirley would relax “at the foot of some tree of friendly umbrage.”

Choose the Right Synonym for umbrage

offense, resentment, umbrage, pique, dudgeon, huff mean an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity.

offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

Examples of umbrage in a Sentence

took umbrage at the slightest suggestion of disrespect

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Some took umbrage with Jerry Reinsdorf, who's long been the subject of criticism from pundits and the Chicago faithful. —

Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025 Piana took umbrage over Viola Milano’s Capri and City loafers, pointing out among other similarities the shoes’ nearly identical white rubber soles. —

Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 3 Jan. 2025 Despite Roan anticipating potential backlash to her statement and preemptively shooting down that logic (as well as turning off the comments section on that Instagram post), some folks still took umbrage. —

Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Dec. 2024 The Swifties who took umbrage at a reference to Taylor Swift in Ye’s verse could only slow its momentum. —

Mike Wass, Variety, 7 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for umbrage

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin umbraticum, neuter of umbraticus of shade, from umbratus, past participle of umbrare to shade, from umbra shade, shadow; akin to Lithuanian unksmė shadow

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler

The first known use of umbrage was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century