be highly offended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be highly offended" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone does something wrong to you, and you want to make it clear that you are deeply hurt and insulted. For example: "When I found out that he had lied to me, I was highly offended."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If you send out a "second string" of invitations, you'll be found out eventually, and most people would be highly offended to know that they were only invited because someone couldn't come.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I was highly offended.

The Guardian

He said he was highly offended that his philanthropic pledges had been questioned last year.

The New York Times

But when I reached the last paragraph of the article, I was highly offended, and I am nowhere near 70 years old.

The New York Times

"I was highly offended at the treatment by witnesses and senators of those who do these transactions as liars and cheats," Mr. Macan added.

The New York Times

Perry said: "I was highly offended about what Donald Trump said about [McCain's] years of sacrifice in a dirty, dingy, terrible prison in North Vietnam.

The Guardian

To the Editor: Regardless of the fact that one of us is Cambodian-American, we were highly offended by the statement that "Cambodians, it seems to me, just want to be considered human beings," which was part of your article.

The New York Times

A voracious reader of comic books as a boy in Buffalo, he was highly offended by the Senate hearings that resulted in the censorship of comics in the 1950s, and his anger at the establishment never wavered.

The New York Times - Arts

For the eldest of his lawfully begotten sons, Xanthippus by name, being naturally prodigal, and marrying a young and expensive wife, the daughter of Tisander, son of Epilycus, was highly offended at his father's economy in making him but a scanty allowance, by little and little at a time.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A story is told that the 16th-century pope Adrian VI was highly offended at satirical verses written against him and affixed to Pasquino's statue (a famous repository for lampoons in Rome), but he became a willing target once he realized that his enemies vented otherwise dangerous hostility in this relatively harmless manner.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It bit me--the interviewing doc was a protégé of my current boss and was highly offended at my criticism of him.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be highly offended", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the offense. Specificity enhances the impact and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "be highly offended". While effective, it can sound melodramatic if used frequently. Opt for synonyms like "feel insulted" or "take offense" for variety and nuanced expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be highly offended" functions as a predicate expressing a state of feeling insulted or aggrieved. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates a strong emotional reaction to something perceived as offensive.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be highly offended" is a grammatically correct expression used to convey a strong feeling of insult or displeasure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate to use when you feel deeply hurt and disrespected. While not exceptionally common, as shown by Ludwig, its usage is primarily found in news, wiki and academic contexts. When writing, ensure that the context clearly defines the reason for offense and that you don't overuse the expression. Remember to consider alternatives like "take great offense" or "feel deeply insulted" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take great offense

This alternative shifts the focus from the intensity of the feeling to the act of taking offense, suggesting a deliberate choice to feel insulted.

feel deeply insulted

This alternative replaces "offended" with "insulted" and uses "deeply" to emphasize the intensity of the feeling.

be extremely displeased

This option uses a more general term, "displeased", but emphasizes the severity with "extremely".

be greatly affronted

This alternative replaces "offended" with the more formal "affronted" and modifies it with "greatly" for emphasis.

bristle with indignation

This phrase uses a more figurative and active expression to describe the reaction of feeling offended, focusing on the outward display of anger and resentment.

feel outrage

This alternative highlights the feeling of moral shock and anger experienced when highly offended.

take exception to

This is a more understated way of expressing offense, suggesting disagreement and disapproval.

be up in arms

This phrase conveys a sense of strong protest and anger, similar to being highly offended but with a focus on action.

have a bone to pick

This idiomatic expression indicates a grievance or reason to be upset, suggesting a desire to confront the offender.

cry foul

This phrase suggests a protest against unfair treatment, akin to being highly offended by an injustice.

FAQs

How can I use "be highly offended" in a sentence?

You can use "be highly offended" to express a strong feeling of insult or displeasure. For example, "I was highly offended by his rude remarks."

What are some alternatives to "be highly offended"?

Some alternatives include "take great offense", "feel deeply insulted", or "be extremely displeased", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "be highly offended" a formal or informal expression?

"Be highly offended" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal situations, you might prefer a more nuanced alternative such as "be greatly affronted".

What's the difference between "be highly offended" and "be slightly offended"?

"Be highly offended" indicates a strong feeling of insult or displeasure, while "be slightly offended" suggests a milder reaction. The adverb "highly" intensifies the feeling of being offended.