indignation

USAGE SUMMARY

"indignation" is a real word, and it is commonly used in written English.
It means "anger or annoyance caused by what is perceived as unfair treatment". For example, "She felt a great deal of indignation when she realized how much she had been taken advantage of."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In some ways it's crude and heavy-handed, blazing with coarse indignation, but in its day it was, creatively speaking, a game-changer.

The Guardian - Books

You feel his indignation as he remembers how Thatcher's government "sequestered the funds of the NUM so miners couldn't get at their strike pay.

The Guardian - Film

Tens of thousands marched in demonstrations across Mexico last week to express outrage at the attacks and register their indignation that the targets were students from poor rural families for whom becoming teachers is possibly the only route to advancement.

The Guardian

If half of the indignation expended on Cantona's insane assault had been invested in combatting the aggressive culture of the terraces then Wednesday's incident might never have happened.

The Guardian - Sport

The Slovaks feel betrayed by what has happened to their money, like the many Germans who are bristling with indignation in part because they were never keen on the currency in the first place.

The Guardian - Business

Related: Dredging in Great Barrier Reef allowed but not with taxpayer money, says Labor The Queensland government's latest efforts to "protect the Great Barrier Reef" by allowing the massive expansion of coal exports should be met with similar indignation because the logic is similarly insulting to the intelligence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Oliver James in the Guardian wondered when the indignation tipping point comes, the Berlin wall moment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Perhaps the best indicator of the level of collective indignation was how everyone was so blinded by rage they forgot to anoint the episode with the customary 'gate' suffix.

The Guardian

He bristles with indignation: "I got the same as Gary Glitter.

The Guardian - Music

Hurd defended it as a necessary shot across the bows of the IRA, but not as a successful ploy for influencing public opinion – although it did temporarily assuage the indignation of the press.

The Guardian - Opinion

Up to that point all that was offered were official denials, moral indignation and confirmation from Campbell that "there is an inside-military & customs services assessment process to look at the question of what we were doing, what we knew, who was engaged – so to essentially create a capacity to characterise whether there's some substance to allegations".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about widespread discontent, using "indignation" can effectively capture the public's anger and moral outrage.

Common error

Avoid using "indignation" for mild annoyance. It's a strong emotion; use words like "irritation" or "displeasure" for less intense feelings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "indignation" is that of a noun, referring to a state of anger or annoyance provoked by perceived injustice. This aligns with Ludwig AI's analysis, confirming its common usage in written English. Examples from Ludwig show it used to describe both personal and collective feelings of anger.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

18%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "indignation" is a commonly used noun that expresses anger or annoyance caused by perceived injustice. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media, as well as formal and business contexts. While generally neutral to formal, it is crucial to use it appropriately, reserving it for situations involving genuine unfairness to avoid overstatement. Consider using alternatives such as "outrage" or "resentment" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outrage

Signifies a strong emotional reaction of shock and anger, often directed at something perceived as morally wrong.

resentment

Emphasizes a feeling of bitterness and ill will resulting from a sense of having been wronged.

fury

Conveys intense anger, often associated with a loss of control.

wrath

Implies a more formal or literary form of intense anger, often associated with judgment or punishment.

umbrage

Suggests offense or annoyance, often taken at a slight or insult.

exasperation

Focuses on the feeling of frustration and annoyance when dealing with something irritating or difficult.

discontent

Highlights a lack of satisfaction with current circumstances, which may lead to indignation.

displeasure

Indicates a feeling of dissatisfaction or disapproval, often more mild than indignation.

dismay

Highlights feelings of shock and distress, often in response to unexpected negative events.

irritation

Signifies mild annoyance or frustration, a less intense form of indignation.

FAQs

How to use "indignation" in a sentence?

"Indignation" is typically used to describe a feeling of anger or outrage caused by something considered unfair or unjust. For example, "The public reacted with indignation at the politician's corrupt actions."

What can I say instead of "indignation"?

You can use alternatives like "outrage", "resentment", or "displeasure" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "indignation" or "outrage"?

"Indignation" and "outrage" are both correct, but they carry slightly different connotations. "Indignation" implies anger specifically caused by perceived injustice, while "outrage" suggests a stronger and more public expression of anger.

What's the difference between "indignation" and "disappointment"?

"Indignation" involves anger and moral disapproval due to unfairness, whereas "disappointment" is a feeling of sadness or dissatisfaction when expectations are not met. "Indignation" is a stronger, more accusatory emotion.