outrage
1 of 2noun
out·rage ˈau̇t-ˌrāj 
1
: an act of violence or brutality
arranged outrages and assassinations
Anthony West
Anthony West2
a
: injury, insult
do no outrages on silly women or poor passengers William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare b
: an act that violates accepted standards of behavior or taste
an outrage alike against decency and dignity John Buchan
John Buchan3
: the anger and resentment aroused by injury or insult
Many people expressed outrage at the court's decision.
outrage
2 of 2verb
outraged; outraging
transitive verb
1
a
: rape
b
: to violate the standards or principles of
he has outraged respectability past endurance John Braine
John Braine2
: to arouse anger or resentment in usually by some grave offense
was outraged by the accusation
Synonyms
Noun
- affront
- barb
- brickbat
- cut
- dart
- dig
- dis [slang]
- diss
- epithet
- gird
- indignity
- insult
- name
- offense
- offence
- personality
- poke
- put-down
- sarcasm
- slap
- slight
- slur
Verb
- affront
- dis [slang]
- diss
- disrespect
- insult
- offend
- slap
- slight
- wound
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Many people expressed outrage at the court's decision. Public outrage over the scandal was great. The rule is an outrage against women. This is an outrage! I won't allow this kind of behavior to continue. Verb His comments outraged nearly everyone in the room. the spiteful comment outraged her so much that she's still holding a grudge See More
Recent Examples on the Web CBS News, 1 Sep. 2022 The Globe and Mail‘s reporting sparked immediate outrage. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2022 This is the second year in a row that a racist video has sparked outrage and calls for change in the Tuscaloosa. Rebecca Griesbach | Rgriesbach@al.com, al, 31 Aug. 2022 The bill was named after 14-year-old Emmett Till who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, which sparked a public outrage. Scott Luxor, Sun Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2022 The video sparked widespread outrage after it was posted on social media. Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 The texts, which Mayor James Latimore said were sent in June, sparked outrage after being posted online in July. Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 20 Aug. 2022 The council had previously voted to dissolve the three-member police department over the texts that were sent in June but which sparked outrage after they were posted online in late July. Jade Gordon, CNN, 19 Aug. 2022 The footage immediately sparked outrage in Boyle Heights and among other Latino communities in the city. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 Collective tragedy is a given, not an issue, for Howe, who strove neither to outrage nor to comfort anyone. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 4 July 2022 My Name Is Andrea points to hurt and outrage as inseparable defining forces in Dworkin’s story. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 June 2022 His success on Twitter arose from his capacity to outrage or amuse a global audience of both enemies and acolytes (Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kim Jong Un, as well as your Trumpist cousin across town). Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 5 June 2022 The incident occurred two days before the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, which at the time led to protests and outrage over police brutality and racial injustice. David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2022 Deporting him would outrage opinion across the world. Tim Soutphommasane And Marc Stears, CNN, 12 Jan. 2022 Government approval of the eviction would outrage Mr. Bennett’s supporters, who believe that settlements in the West Bank are essential to Israel’s security and, for many, that the territory was among the lands promised to Jews by God. New York Times, 24 June 2021 The repeal of Section 230 could result in a system in which inflammatory or provocative news or images that might outrage or incite people could be deemed too socially destructive or disturbing of the peace by internet companies. Michael J. Socolow, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2021 See More
Noun
The fatal incident has sparked outrage in the community. CBS News, 1 Sep. 2022 The Globe and Mail‘s reporting sparked immediate outrage. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2022 This is the second year in a row that a racist video has sparked outrage and calls for change in the Tuscaloosa. Rebecca Griesbach | Rgriesbach@al.com, al, 31 Aug. 2022 The bill was named after 14-year-old Emmett Till who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, which sparked a public outrage. Scott Luxor, Sun Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2022 The video sparked widespread outrage after it was posted on social media. Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 24 Aug. 2022 The texts, which Mayor James Latimore said were sent in June, sparked outrage after being posted online in July. Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 20 Aug. 2022 The council had previously voted to dissolve the three-member police department over the texts that were sent in June but which sparked outrage after they were posted online in late July. Jade Gordon, CNN, 19 Aug. 2022 The footage immediately sparked outrage in Boyle Heights and among other Latino communities in the city. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Verb
It's clearly designed to provoke and outrage even more than the level of Gervais' usual standards for provocation and outrageousness. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 Collective tragedy is a given, not an issue, for Howe, who strove neither to outrage nor to comfort anyone. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 4 July 2022 My Name Is Andrea points to hurt and outrage as inseparable defining forces in Dworkin’s story. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 June 2022 His success on Twitter arose from his capacity to outrage or amuse a global audience of both enemies and acolytes (Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kim Jong Un, as well as your Trumpist cousin across town). Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 5 June 2022 The incident occurred two days before the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, which at the time led to protests and outrage over police brutality and racial injustice. David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2022 Deporting him would outrage opinion across the world. Tim Soutphommasane And Marc Stears, CNN, 12 Jan. 2022 Government approval of the eviction would outrage Mr. Bennett’s supporters, who believe that settlements in the West Bank are essential to Israel’s security and, for many, that the territory was among the lands promised to Jews by God. New York Times, 24 June 2021 The repeal of Section 230 could result in a system in which inflammatory or provocative news or images that might outrage or incite people could be deemed too socially destructive or disturbing of the peace by internet companies. Michael J. Socolow, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French utrage, outrage insult, excess, from outre, utre beyond, from Latin ultra — more at ultra-
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
outrage 1 of 2
noun
out·rage ˈau̇t-ˌrāj
1
: angry feelings caused by a hurtful, unjust, or insulting act
2
: an act that is hurtful or unjust or shows disrespect for a person's feelings
outrage
2 of 2verb
outraged; outraging
1
: to cause to feel anger or strong resentment
We were outraged by the way we were treated.
2
: to cause to suffer great insult Her words outraged his dignity.
Legal Definition
outrage
noun
out·rage ˈau̇t-ˌrāj
1
: a deeply offensive or violent act
2
: the tort of intentionally inflicting emotional distress
outrage 1 of 2
noun
1
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings the booing during the graduation speech was an outrage Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- insult
- sarcasm
- offence
- indignity
- affront
- disgrace
- offense
- slap
- attack
- barb
- slight
- slur
- epithet
- criticism
- name
- shame
- dart
- personality
- vituperation
- disapproval
- brickbat
- invective
- dis
- abuse
- taunt
- poke
- diss
- jibe
- sneer
- put-down
- gird
- jeer
- opprobrium
- dig
- mock
- gibe
- cut
- quip
- dishonor
- torture
- catcall
- swipe
- torment
- knock
- slam
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praise
- applause
- acclaim
- compliment
- commendation
- adulation
- flattery
- accolade
2
as in indignation
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something the actress could barely contain her outrage at being passed over for an Oscar yet again Synonyms & Similar Words
- indignation
- anger
- rage
- fury
- wrath
- irritation
- mood
- wrathfulness
- mad
- exasperation
- ire
- madness
- furor
- contempt
- resentment
- irritability
- annoyance
- jealousy
- hostility
- bitterness
- spleen
- slow burn
- angriness
- choler
- malice
- outburst
- temper
- lividity
- birse
- grudge
- animosity
- irateness
- antipathy
- envy
- lividness
- venom
- antagonism
- vitriol
- enmity
- bile
- rancor
- vindictiveness
- spite
- embitterment
- aggravation
- vexation
- pique
- acrimony
- malevolence
- belligerence
- vengefulness
- virulence
- pugnacity
- dudgeon
- biliousness
- querulousness
- jaundice
- crankiness
- heat
- contentiousness
- irascibility
- warmth
- orneriness
- contrariness
- pugnaciousness
- delirium
- huff
- quarrelsomeness
- pet
- flare
- blowup
- dander
- road rage
- rise
- acrimoniousness
- passion
- hot-headedness
- disputatiousness
- empoisonment
- chafe
- ruffle
- air rage
- irascibleness
- flare-up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- delight
- pleasure
- patience
- forbearance
- calmness
outrage
2 of 2verb
1
as in to insult
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in the spiteful comment outraged her so much that she's still holding a grudge Synonyms & Similar Words
- insult
- offend
- affront
- disrespect
- upset
- taunt
- wound
- slap
- trouble
- hurt
- pain
- slight
- ridicule
- distress
- displease
- mock
- disturb
- dis
- diss
- snub
- miff
- slander
- torture
- jeer
- torment
- libel
- slur
- smear
- revile
- disparage
- malign
- defame
- oppress
- persecute
- cut
- sneer (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- applaud
- acclaim
- praise
- approve
- hail
- compliment
- commend
- honor
- eulogize
- delight
- flatter
- satisfy
- please
- gratify
- exalt
- adulate
- glorify
- sweet-talk
2
as in to anger
to make angry the vandalism in the cemetery outraged the entire community we were outraged to discover that we had been overcharged for our hotel room Synonyms & Similar Words
- anger
- infuriate
- enrage
- ire
- annoy
- mad
- rile
- irritate
- inflame
- affront
- offend
- roil
- steam up
- madden
- rankle
- incense
- enflame
- tick off
- provoke
- aggravate
- get
- rub the wrong way
- pique
- miff
- exasperate
- huff
- peeve
- vex
- get one's goat
- ruffle
- cross
- nettle
- put out
- antagonize
- embitter
- burn (up)
- envenom
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- delight
- please
- gratify
- relieve
- allay
- assuage
- comfort
- soothe
- placate
- appease
- console
- calm
- pacify
- quiet
- charm
- lull
- conciliate
- mollify
- settle
- disarm
- captivate
- beguile
- enchant
- bewitch
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of outrage are affront, insult, and offend. While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.
outraged by their accusations
While in some cases nearly identical to outrage, affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.
deeply affronted by his callousness
The words insult and outrage can be used in similar contexts, but insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.
insulted every guest at the party
In some situations, the words offend and outrage are roughly equivalent. However, offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting.
hoped that my remarks had not offended her