indignant tone

USAGE SUMMARY

'indignant tone' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone's voice. For example, "She spoke to me in an indignant tone, clearly angry about something."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Noonan, though, also called the speech a "gamble" because of Obama's "stern" and "indignant" tone.

The Guardian - Opinion

Moscow's protest carried a more indignant tone today after three car bomb attacks during the weekend attributed to Chechen militants killed 22 people.

The New York Times

"Through a combination of bad luck, apathy, incompetence, and downright theft, Jack has been badly served by a succession of managers, agents, and record companies who have done little or nothing to promote his work," Shapiro notes, with the slightly indignant tone of a man who has got close to his subject in all senses.

The Guardian - Books

"These tales are the destruction of Russian business, do you understand, your honor?" he told the judge, taking on a typically proud and indignant tone later in his speech.

Vice

"These tales are the destruction of Russian business, do you understand, your honour?" he told the judge, taking on a typically proud and indignant tone later in his speech.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

KABUL, Afghanistan — In indignant tones, the Islamic law student told her family about the superstitious practices she had witnessed earlier that day at a historic shrine in Kabul.

The New York Times

In indignant tones, he talked to me about the sophisticated off-balance-sheet vehicles the banks used to hide risk and game the system, and the "mortgage-backed securities they were shoving out the door".

The New York Times

"People always want to know: 'How do you get the human element to it?' Well, I guess because I'm making it," says Doyle. "I am a human, by the way!" says Eno in an faux-indignant tone, going on to explain that when he first got to grips with recording studios, the new-found technological possibility to sound inhuman was actually rather exotic.

The Guardian - Music

Acting as a de facto spokesman for the left wing of the Democratic Party and the motley mix of disenchanted populists who flocked to his 2016 presidential campaign, Sanders' speech was, true to brand, far more radical in its proposals, indignant in its tone and saturated with policy details than the two official responses delivered by Kennedy and Guzman.

Huffington Post

(Others with Johnson's condition are much less amenable to study. Clive Wearing, an amnesiac conductor, became indignant during a tones experiment, declaring, "I am a world-famous musician!") Without memory, temperament appears to be laid bare.

The New Yorker

As he recalls these events, his sentimental tone turns indignant.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing dialogue or a character's speech, use "indignant tone" to clearly convey their moral outrage or strong disapproval. It's more specific than simply saying someone sounded "angry".

Common error

Avoid using "indignant tone" when simple anger or annoyance is meant. Indignation implies a sense of righteous anger in response to perceived injustice or unfairness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indignant tone" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as an adjective describing a manner of speaking or writing. Ludwig provides examples where it is used to depict a speaker's emotional state.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Books

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "indignant tone" is a noun phrase used to describe speech or writing that conveys moral outrage or strong disapproval rooted in perceived injustice. While considered grammatically correct, according to Ludwig AI, its frequency is rare. It commonly appears in contexts like news media and books. Describing the difference between other more general words (i.e. "angry tone") is important to keep in mind when wanting to use this specific term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indignant voice

Focuses on the vocal quality expressing indignation, rather than just the overall tone.

angry tone

A more general term for a tone expressing anger, without necessarily implying moral outrage.

angered tone

Refers to a tone indicating anger, potentially less nuanced than indignation.

outraged tone

Highlights the sense of being deeply offended or shocked, emphasizing a strong emotional response.

furious tone

Implies a more extreme level of anger and intensity in the tone.

enraged tone

Signifies a tone filled with extreme anger and fury.

indignant language

Shifts the focus from tone to the actual words and phrasing used to convey indignation.

disgusted tone

Indicates a tone of revulsion or strong disapproval, which may accompany indignation.

indignant attitude

Broadens the scope to encompass a general state of mind or disposition characterized by indignation.

indignant stance

Changes the modality from auditory to visual by conveying indignation through body language or position.

FAQs

How can I use "indignant tone" in a sentence?

You can use "indignant tone" to describe someone's speech or writing. For example: "The letter was written in an "indignant tone", protesting the new regulations" or "She replied in an "indignant tone", clearly offended by the question".

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

"Angry tone" describes a general feeling of displeasure or hostility, while "indignant tone" implies a specific kind of anger arising from perceived injustice or unfairness. Indignation carries a sense of moral outrage.

What are some synonyms for "indignant tone"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "outraged tone", "disgusted tone", or "exasperated tone".

Is it appropriate to use "indignant tone" in formal writing?

Yes, "indignant tone" is appropriate in formal writing, particularly when analyzing rhetoric, describing a speaker's demeanor, or conveying strong disapproval. However, consider if there are stronger choices that might be more precise.