indignation
noun
in·dig·na·tion ˌin-dig-ˈnā-shən 
: anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean
Synonyms
- anger
- angriness
- birse [chiefly Scottish]
- choler
- furor
- fury
- irateness
- ire
- lividity
- lividness
- mad
- madness
- mood [archaic]
- outrage
- rage
- spleen
- wrath
- wrathfulness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I am eager to concede that in our cataclysmic world this is a little misfortune, arousing even in me only the kind of indignation that could be thoroughly vented in a long footnote somewhere. 
Marilynne Robinson, The Death of Adam, (1998) 2005 It's good to bear the preceding in mind when trying to comprehend the indignation with which the East Coast establishment greets work that dares to be both funny and deadly serious in the same breath. Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004 … in his reverie, while his wife swooped back and forth with sheets of last year's leaves and bundles of brisk directives, his brooding mind warmed his old indignation at not having been invited to that party given by his then recently forsaken inamorata. John Updike, The Afterlife, 1994 The decision to close the factory has aroused the indignation of the townspeople. He adopted a tone of moral indignation.
Marilynne Robinson, The Death of Adam, (1998) 2005 It's good to bear the preceding in mind when trying to comprehend the indignation with which the East Coast establishment greets work that dares to be both funny and deadly serious in the same breath. Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004 … in his reverie, while his wife swooped back and forth with sheets of last year's leaves and bundles of brisk directives, his brooding mind warmed his old indignation at not having been invited to that party given by his then recently forsaken inamorata. John Updike, The Afterlife, 1994 The decision to close the factory has aroused the indignation of the townspeople. He adopted a tone of moral indignation. Recent Examples on the Web The calm ones who rarely feel such indignation and attitude? Eric Griffith, PCMAG, 22 Aug. 2022 Ivanka Dymyd knew her son burned with righteous indignation toward injustice in general and Russia in particular. Martin Kuz, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Aug. 2022 His experience at this show in Los Angeles, the comedown from a time of acclaim and empowerment, left him lucid with the kind of heartbreak that begins as indignation. Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2022 Brown’s name comes up in trade talks, there’s none of the ululating or indignation that follows a suggestion to trade Marcus Smart. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 June 2022 Left out of print in French for decades, the pamphlets were set to be republished by Gallimard several years ago—a plan that was put on hold after much public indignation but has now been reignited. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 15 June 2022 Later on, the beloved great-great-grandmother would recount this experience in detail, filled with charisma, indignation and even humor. Lea Skene, Baltimore Sun, 29 May 2022 What soon follows are the scams, frauds and loss through ignorance and then righteous indignation. Bob Bonniol, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2022 July says Oh Yoo-jin’s arc is largely modeled on the director’s own experience with the story — from relative indifference to a righteous indignation bordering on obsession. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2022 See More
Eric Griffith, PCMAG, 22 Aug. 2022 Ivanka Dymyd knew her son burned with righteous indignation toward injustice in general and Russia in particular. Martin Kuz, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Aug. 2022 His experience at this show in Los Angeles, the comedown from a time of acclaim and empowerment, left him lucid with the kind of heartbreak that begins as indignation. Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2022 Brown’s name comes up in trade talks, there’s none of the ululating or indignation that follows a suggestion to trade Marcus Smart. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 June 2022 Left out of print in French for decades, the pamphlets were set to be republished by Gallimard several years ago—a plan that was put on hold after much public indignation but has now been reignited. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 15 June 2022 Later on, the beloved great-great-grandmother would recount this experience in detail, filled with charisma, indignation and even humor. Lea Skene, Baltimore Sun, 29 May 2022 What soon follows are the scams, frauds and loss through ignorance and then righteous indignation. Bob Bonniol, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2022 July says Oh Yoo-jin’s arc is largely modeled on the director’s own experience with the story — from relative indifference to a righteous indignation bordering on obsession. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see indignant
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
indignation
noun
in·dig·na·tion ˌin-dig-ˈnā-shən
: anger caused by something unjust or unworthy
indignation
noun
as in anger
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something their indignation at the offensive television show led them to start a grassroots campaign for its cancellation Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- anger
- outrage
- fury
- wrath
- rage
- irritation
- mood
- exasperation
- wrathfulness
- mad
- ire
- resentment
- contempt
- irritability
- jealousy
- madness
- bitterness
- annoyance
- hostility
- furor
- choler
- spleen
- angriness
- temper
- malice
- slow burn
- outburst
- grudge
- lividity
- birse
- animosity
- envy
- vexation
- venom
- irateness
- enmity
- antagonism
- antipathy
- spite
- embitterment
- lividness
- bile
- vindictiveness
- rancor
- aggravation
- vitriol
- vengefulness
- acrimony
- malevolence
- pique
- querulousness
- biliousness
- pugnacity
- belligerence
- dudgeon
- irascibility
- virulence
- jaundice
- crankiness
- heat
- contentiousness
- orneriness
- contrariness
- warmth
- huff
- pugnaciousness
- delirium
- quarrelsomeness
- flare
- hot-headedness
- acrimoniousness
- dander
- pet
- passion
- road rage
- rise
- chafe
- blowup
- empoisonment
- disputatiousness
- ruffle
- irascibleness
- air rage
- flare-up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- delight
- pleasure
- patience
- forbearance
- calmness
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
Both rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.
shook with rage
could not contain his fury
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