umbrage

noun

ˈəm-brij How to pronounce umbrage (audio)
Definition of umbragenext
as in huff
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity took umbrage at the slightest suggestion of disrespect

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Jones would take umbrage to Cam and Fif mentioning his name during the podcast, responding on Justin LaBoy’s Respectfully podcast shortly after, sparking a drawn out back and forth between all parties involved. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 29 Oct. 2025 The Owensboro citizens continued to take umbrage to the ways in which they were being portrayed in the national press. —Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025 Rowling took umbrage with Watson’s comments, specifically her hope that Rowling will still love her. —Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 29 Sep. 2025 The author incorrectly attributed a quote to Kirk to portray him as a racist, a fact with which the vice president took particular umbrage. —Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for umbrage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbrage
  1. huff
  2. anger
  3. frustration
  4. indignation
  5. resentment
  6. dudgeon
  7. exasperation
  8. irritation
Noun
  • David walks out of the kitchen and Moira huffs and takes his spot over the pot.
    — Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Secondary recovery includes waterflooding or gas injection which includes huff-and-puff mode.
    — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Definition of huff
Noun
  • The manipulations also affected how much sadness and anger participants reported feeling while scrolling.
    — Simon Makin, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Iran at home faces still-simmering anger over its wide-ranging suppression of all dissent in the Islamic Republic.
    — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of anger
Noun
  • Inflation has weighed on shoppers, and customers have voiced frustration over cluttered stores and inconsistent merchandise that strayed from the retailer’s identity as a polished, affordable-chic chain.
    — Emily Lorsch, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
  • DeRozan said Sacramento’s poor play was the source of his outward show of frustration following an alley-oop dunk by Zion Williamson in the third period.
    — HECTOR AMEZCUA, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of frustration
Noun
  • The Editorial Board should save its righteous indignation for some other topic.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Many of the musicians and audience members belonged to a generation that’s often stereotyped as languishing in apathy and isolation—but whose indignation about the suffering in Gaza has far outpaced that of other generations.
    — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of indignation
Noun
  • The unstoppable force of Sally’s resentment and the immovable object of Theo’s perseverance are not an ideal dramatic combination.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
  • But soaring costs, inequality, and youth unemployment saw resentment grow against her Awami League, which was banned from taking part in Thursday’s election.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of resentment
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
  • Close’s game, canny performance of reliving her own past couldn’t quite obscure the ungainliness of some of Webber’s songs, the dudgeon and occasional monotony of the sung-through score, or the strain of trying to generate plot friction in a story with only four major characters.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
Definition of dudgeon
Noun
  • Conversations with him on this topic tend to be a bacchanal of profanity and exasperation.
    — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Though Miami has made the playoffs every year this decade, and gone to two Finals in the past six years, fan exasperation stems from a team (with historically high standards and achievement) remaining in play-in purgatory for what’s headed toward a fourth consecutive season.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of exasperation
Noun
  • Signs that a neti pot may be dirty or causing issues for another reason include persistent nasal irritation, worsening congestion, frequent nosebleeds or the development of sinus infections.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
  • As the drinks went down, mutual irritation rose.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of irritation

Browse Nearby Words

umbra
umbrage
umbrageous
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Cite this Entry

“Umbrage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbrage. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on umbrage

Nglish: Translation of umbrage for Spanish Speakers

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