indignant

indignant — adjective

1. angry and upset because something is unfair or unreasonable, especially when it

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

angry and upset because something is unfair or unreasonable, especially when it happens to you or to someone close to you

Example

Aiko felt indignant when her boss took credit for the project she had led.

indignant when + time clause for unfair situation

The residents were indignant that the council had ignored their complaints for months.

indignant that + clause for ongoing injustice

Synonyms
  • outraged

    stronger and more emotional than indignant; suggests shock and anger at something deeply offensive

  • resentful

    focuses on bitterness over unfair treatment that continues over time, often held inside

  • offended

    more personal and less moral — suggests hurt feelings rather than a sense of injustice

  • aggrieved

    formal; describes a person who feels they have been treated unfairly, often in a legal or official context

Antonyms
  • pleased

    feeling satisfied or happy with a situation

  • approving

    feeling that something is right or acceptable

Grammar Patterns

indignant + at/about/over + noun

indignant + that + clause

indignant + to + infinitive

be/become/feel/look/sound + indignant

Usage Note

Unlike the simpler word angry, indignant is used only when the anger is felt because something is seen as unfair, unjust, or morally wrong. It is slightly more formal and often implies a sense of moral outrage rather than personal irritation.

Common Mistakes

She was indignant about the flat tyre.
She was indignant when her brother blamed her for the flat tyre she did not cause.
'indignant' requires a sense of unfairness or injustice, not just annoyance at a problem.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe negative reactions to something perceived as wrong, but they differ in intensity and focus. Indignant is the most measured of the group: it conveys anger rooted in a sense of fairness or moral principle — for example, feeling indignant when a colleague is passed over for promotion unfairly. Outraged is far stronger; it suggests shock and fury at something deeply offensive or shocking, such as a violent act or a major scandal. Resentful is less about a single event and more about a lingering bitterness over unequal treatment, often held quietly over time. Offended is the most personal and mildest — it focuses on hurt feelings when someone is rude or disrespectful, without necessarily implying a broader moral wrong. Use indignant when the core issue is fairness; outraged for a stronger, more dramatic reaction.

indignant ↗outragedresentfuloffended ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • indignant look
  • indignant voice
  • indignant reply
  • indignant protest
  • indignant letter
  • indignant silence

Adverbs

  • deeply indignant
  • highly indignant
  • quite indignant
  • righteously indignant
  • somewhat indignant

Phrases

  • feel indignant
  • become indignant
  • look indignant
  • sound indignant
  • grow indignant

Prepositions

  • indignant at
  • indignant about
  • indignant over

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word 'indignant' comes from the Latin verb 'indignari', meaning 'to regard as unworthy or offensive'. This was formed from 'in-' (a prefix meaning 'not') and 'dignus' (meaning 'worthy'). The idea is that someone feels anger because a person or action is seen as not worthy of respect — that is, beneath what is fair or proper. The word entered English in the late 1500s and has kept the same core meaning ever since.