umbrage

Synonym Chooser

How is the word umbrage distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of umbrage are dudgeon, huff, offense, pique, and resentment. While all these words mean "an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity," umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

When would dudgeon be a good substitute for umbrage?

Although the words dudgeon and umbrage have much in common, dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

When could huff be used to replace umbrage?

The words huff and umbrage can be used in similar contexts, but huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

When is offense a more appropriate choice than umbrage?

While the synonyms offense and umbrage are close in meaning, offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

When can pique be used instead of umbrage?

The meanings of pique and umbrage largely overlap; however, pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

When might resentment be a better fit than umbrage?

While in some cases nearly identical to umbrage, resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

Example 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 umbrage Cormier took umbrage with the account posting an old quote seemingly out of the blue. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 Expand All Members of a private Facebook group representing the area surrounding the far north Fort Worth Heritage neighborhood took umbrage at having one their leaders called a narcissist by a member of the Keller school board. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2025 Cronin took umbrage with that technical, earning a second technical and an early exit to the Bruins’ locker room. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2025 Trump takes umbrage at Biden’s actions during transition period Tonally, one of the most striking things about the news conference was President-elect Trump’s obvious irritation at some actions taken by President Biden in the period since the election. Niall Stanage, The Hill, 7 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for umbrage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbrage
Noun
  • Volunteers were charged around 25 cents per huff, bringing in good profit for those who’d invested in the necessary gas tanks, tubes, and breathing bags.
    Oshan Jarow, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
  • The huffs and hums, produced by two women standing face-to-face and vocalizing from their throats, is believed to be one of the oldest music forms in the world.
    Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2024
Noun
  • Other footage showed similar instances of anger, such as when Ruby Franke expressed frustration at her husband for not being interactive enough on camera.
    Angela Yang, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Ellen’s decision to end her husband’s life was not an act of anger or violence.
    Tony Ray, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Trump was willing to give detente a shot but underwent a 180-degree turn after the first sign of frustration.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Many end users have voiced their frustration with the difficulty of opening the new packages and the risks associated with using sharp tools.
    Bill Schiffmiller, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Vance’s speech spurred the Europeans to unite in their indignation.
    Simon Shuster/Berlin, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
  • If Jude’s previous two fiction films were Molotov cocktails of indignation, his latest secretes a kind of scentless poison that gets at the banality with which social injustices are processed and rationalized.
    Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Beck is in a state of high dudgeon, because there’s a big shipment due and two of his drivers are AWOL.
    Chris Klimek, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Instead, the high dudgeon now heard in Tennant’s fey voice gives too much weight to the smugness of group-thinkers.
    Armond White, National Review, 18 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • The car is filled with tension, with Basel’s frustration and Yuval’s exasperation.
    Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
  • But only Pereira and those inside the club will have a clear idea of the extent to which that version of the player has already been lost to them or whether he can be coaxed back to his best following the frustration and exasperation that took hold at Chelsea.
    Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • From a psychological perspective, Saunders-Waldron highlighted how repeatedly ignoring someone's boundaries can breed resentment and emotional fatigue which can explain the woman's stance.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Fueled by years of resentment, Dante targets Dom’s family and closest friends, forcing the crew to scatter across the globe in a desperate bid to survive.
    Travis Bean, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Its redness-minimizing powers come from Centella asiatica extract (also known as cica), which is also helpful for mitigating irritation.
    Sarah Han, Allure, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Respiratory problems: Regurgitated stomach acids that reach the back of your throat can be inhaled and cause irritation in your lungs and airways.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 7 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Umbrage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbrage. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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