indignant

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "indignant" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to describe someone being angry and indignant at being treated in a certain way or about a certain situation or idea. Example sentence: When he heard about the unfair wages the workers were being paid, he felt indignant.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was indignant.

The New York Times

Related: Two explosions hit Kurdish political rally in Turkey But many in Batman, a religiously conservative region, are indignant about the president's blatant use of Islam to rally his base.

The Guardian

The morgellons believers look expectantly at the indignant litigant.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Quote of the week: an indignant Omar on his blissfully ignorant grandma: "That woman think I work in a cafeteria – at the airport!" Murders: still on 50, but Prez does accidently kills another policeman – a distractingly overdramatic subplot for this point in the series?

The Guardian

Broken by Daniel Clay (Fourth Estate), has a most indignant narrator, an 11-year-old girl called Skunk, trying to come to terms with violence and cruelty in her suburban neighbourhood.

The Guardian - Books

The indignant felling, however, of the SDLP should act as a final warn ing those in the Irish Labour Party under the illusion that by playing footsie with Sinn Fein they can somehow tame this avaricious and single-minded movement.

The Guardian

The UK intelligence services have created a global audience for the spectacle of him beating them with a big stick of indignant rebuke.

The Guardian

He weeps a little as he shares that last part, then takes a wheezy breath and his tone shifts to indignant.

The Guardian

Plan is not happy about this, and over some indignant fingerpicked guitar he skewers those responsible, namely "role models" and "something something David Cameron's Broken Britain".

The Guardian - Music

But there is also a more indignant political message about passing on the unfinished business of educational unfairness.

The Guardian - Opinion

I originally joined the protest not because I am passionate about the EU, but because I felt indignant that the government made such a dramatic U-turn [postponing the association deal with the EU] in an arrogant confidence that the people would swallow it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "indignant" to precisely convey anger rooted in a sense of injustice or unfairness. It's stronger than simply "angry" and carries a moral dimension.

Common error

Avoid using "indignant" when describing minor irritations. The word implies a significant breach of justice, so using it for trivial matters dilutes its impact and can sound overly dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "indignant" primarily functions to describe a state of being, specifically expressing anger or resentment stemming from perceived injustice or wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI exemplifies, it modifies nouns to illustrate the emotional response to unfairness or impropriety.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "indignant" effectively conveys anger and resentment in response to perceived injustice. Its grammatical function is to describe a state of being, and its communicative purpose is to express strong disapproval. As Ludwig AI indicates, the word is considered grammatically correct and is very commonly used, especially in news and media. While the register leans toward neutral to formal, its consistent usage demonstrates its versatility in conveying a sense of moral outrage, making it a powerful descriptor in both written and spoken language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outraged

Indicates a strong feeling of shock and anger.

incensed

Very angry; enraged.

resentful

Expresses a feeling of displeasure or indignation at someone or something perceived as causing unfair treatment.

irate

Expresses great anger.

affronted

Feeling offended due to a perceived insult.

aggrieved

Suggests a feeling of resentment at having been unfairly treated.

wrathful

Characterized by intense anger.

exasperated

Suggests a feeling of intense irritation or frustration.

displeased

Conveys a feeling of dissatisfaction or disapproval.

annoyed

Indicates a feeling of mild irritation or frustration.

FAQs

How can I use "indignant" in a sentence?

You can use "indignant" to describe someone feeling or showing anger because of something that is unfair or wrong. For instance, "The citizens were "indignant" about the corrupt official's actions".

What words can I use instead of "indignant"?

Alternatives to "indignant" include "resentful", "outraged", or "aggrieved". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "angry" and "indignant"?

"Angry" is a general term for feeling displeasure, while "indignant" specifically implies anger caused by something perceived as unfair or unjust. Therefore, one might be angry about a delayed train, but "indignant" about discriminatory practices.

Is "indignant" a formal or informal word?

"Indignant" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in writing and formal speech due to its precise and somewhat elevated tone. In casual conversation, simpler words like "upset" or "annoyed" might be more common.