sorely offended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sorely offended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong feeling of being hurt or insulted by someone's words or actions. Example: "After hearing the harsh criticism, she felt sorely offended and needed time to process her emotions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We might well condemn her racism as deplorable, and we should not be the least bit surprised if non-whites were sorely offended by her attitudes, but presumably we would stop short of saying that she had a duty to marry a black person.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Offended yet?

The Guardian

Offended looks.

The Guardian

Dunia was deeply offended.

The New Yorker

"I was offended!

The New York Times

I am offended.

The New York Times

"We're offended".

The New York Times

" 'I'm offended!

The New Yorker

That movie offended Silver.

The New Yorker

He often appears offended.

The New York Times - Sports

"Some patients get offended.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sorely offended" to express a strong feeling of hurt or insult, often in response to a perceived injustice or disrespect. It suggests a deeper level of emotional impact than simply "offended".

Common error

Avoid using "sorely offended" in situations where a milder term like "slightly annoyed" or "a bit put off" would be more appropriate. The phrase carries a significant emotional weight and should be reserved for situations where the offense is genuinely impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sorely offended" functions as a compound adjective, where "sorely" modifies the adjective "offended", intensifying its meaning. This creates a stronger expression of feeling insulted or hurt, as Ludwig's examples demonstrate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sorely offended" is a phrase used to express a strong feeling of being hurt or insulted. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is grammatically correct but relatively rare in occurrence. Its function is to intensify the feeling of being offended, and it's generally used in neutral to formal registers. When employing this phrase, consider the emotional weight it carries and whether it accurately reflects the intensity of the situation. If you want to express something with less emotional impact, use an alternative such as "slightly annoyed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Deeply insulted

Replaces "offended" with "insulted" to emphasize the feeling of being disrespected, and "sorely" with "deeply" for intensity.

Profoundly hurt

Focuses on the emotional pain and distress caused by the offense.

Greatly affronted

Uses "affronted" instead of "offended" to highlight a more direct and personal insult.

Bitterly aggrieved

Emphasizes the feeling of injustice and resentment caused by the offense.

Strongly resentful

Highlights the feeling of bitterness and anger resulting from the offense.

Sharply displeased

Highlights the strong negative reaction and dissatisfaction resulting from the offense.

Acutely stung

Uses "stung" metaphorically to express the sharp emotional pain caused by the offense.

Seriously wounded

Uses "wounded" metaphorically to express the emotional harm caused by the offense.

Gravely displeased

Emphasizes the serious nature of the displeasure caused by the offense.

Extremely vexed

Replaces "offended" with "vexed" to convey a sense of annoyance and irritation.

FAQs

What does "sorely offended" mean?

"Sorely offended" means to be deeply hurt or insulted. The word "sorely" intensifies the feeling of being offended, indicating a significant emotional impact.

How can I use "sorely offended" in a sentence?

You can use "sorely offended" in a sentence like this: "She was "deeply insulted" after hearing the insensitive comments."

What are some alternatives to "sorely offended"?

Alternatives to "sorely offended" include "deeply hurt", "greatly insulted", or "bitterly aggrieved", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "sorely offended" a formal or informal expression?

"Sorely offended" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in writing or when expressing strong emotions. A less intense phrasing, such as "slightly annoyed", might be more suitable for casual conversation.