wax indignant

USAGE SUMMARY

"wax indignant" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to become very angry or indignant about something. For example, "The woman waxed indignant upon hearing about the government's new tax policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It is tempting to wax indignant at this point.

The New York Times

They can wax indignant all winter, brightening those dreary months when sports consists largely of faceless people running around in helmets.

The New York Times - Sports

Even though the evidence of a relationship between culture and actual violence is highly uncertain, it is good politics to wax indignant about entertainment corrupting the nation's youth.

The New York Times

I say "amusing" because when the luvvies (a London term for theatrical folks) wax indignant they tend to hyperbole as the new culture secretary, Maria Miller, is keen to point out.

The Economist

Yes, American Indian activists wax indignant about it – but the most recent poll on the subject, admittedly a decade ago, found the average Native American basically couldn't care less.

Independent

Today's politically engaged Hollywood celebrity picks and chooses a cause, one eye on a country far away enough to wax indignant about, the other eye on the next contract.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

She, like others, waxes indignant at such culinary inexactitudes.

The New York Times - Food

Waxing indignant about sexism may help rally support for Democratic candidates.

The Economist

She talked and I agreed, and sympathized, and waxed indignant as required.

The New Yorker

The racial imagery I've been waxing indignant about lately is just bait.

The New Yorker

Chile's Eduardo Frei was waxing indignant at the recent refusal of two television channels to transmit the health ministry's educational publicity against AIDS.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wax indignant" to express a sense of moral outrage or strong disapproval, especially in response to perceived injustice or hypocrisy. It adds a slightly elevated or literary tone to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "wax indignant" too frequently in casual conversation or informal writing. Its somewhat formal tone can sound stilted or pretentious if not used judiciously.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wax indignant" functions as a verb phrase that describes the act of expressing or becoming filled with indignation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The examples show its use to describe reactions to political issues, social commentary, and perceived injustices.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wax indignant" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase meaning to express or become filled with indignation. Ludwig AI confirms this. While not extremely common, the phrase appears primarily in News & Media contexts and carries a neutral to somewhat formal tone. It is useful for conveying moral outrage or strong disapproval in response to perceived injustice or hypocrisy. When using "wax indignant", be mindful of its slightly elevated register and consider alternative expressions like "become outraged" or "show indignation" for different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

show indignation

Directly points to the act of displaying offense or resentment.

become outraged

Focuses on the state of being filled with righteous anger; slightly stronger emotional intensity.

express outrage

Highlights the act of showing anger publicly; emphasizes communication of displeasure.

be up in arms

Indicates a state of protest or strong opposition; implies action.

get angry

A simple expression of becoming angry; lacks the nuance of moral offense.

bristle with anger

Describes a physical manifestation of anger; less about verbal expression.

take offense

Emphasizes personal hurt or displeasure; less about public expression.

boil over with anger

Implies suppressed anger finally erupting; more dramatic.

fly into a rage

Suggests a sudden burst of intense anger; more volatile than "wax indignant".

lose one's temper

Indicates a loss of self-control due to anger; may involve shouting or other uncontrolled behavior.

FAQs

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

You can use "wax indignant" to describe someone expressing strong disapproval or outrage, such as: "The columnist "waxed indignant" about the government's new policies."

What does it mean to "wax" something?

In this context, "wax" means to increase or grow in intensity or expression. To "wax indignant" means to grow increasingly angry or outraged.

What can I say instead of "wax indignant"?

You can use alternatives like "become outraged", "express outrage", or "show indignation" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "waxing indignant" the same as "wax indignant"?

"Waxing indignant" is the progressive form, indicating an ongoing process of becoming indignant, while "wax indignant" describes the general action or tendency. Both are grammatically correct but have slightly different meanings.