indignantly

indignantly — adverb

1. in a way that shows strong annoyance or anger caused by something you believe is

1.adverbC1
Definition

in a way that shows strong annoyance or anger caused by something you believe is unfair or morally wrong

Example

Theo stared indignantly at his brother after being called a liar.

stare + indignantly for speechless outrage

Leila replied indignantly that she had paid the full amount already.

reply + that-clause to deny an unfair accusation

Synonyms
  • angrily

    more general; can refer to any kind of anger, not only from perceived injustice

  • resentfully

    suggests bitterness held over time rather than a sharp immediate reaction

  • furiously

    implies a much higher intensity of anger, often with loss of control

  • huffily

    informal; suggests a milder, more childish form of offended reaction

Antonyms
  • meekly

    accepting unfair treatment without protest

  • calmly

    without any anger, fair or unfair

Usage Note

Often paired with speech verbs (replied, protested, said) or reaction verbs (stared, walked away, looked on). Carries a stronger moral dimension than 'angrily' — the anger comes from a perceived injustice, not just frustration.

Common Mistakes

She complained indignantly about the rainy weather.
She complained indignantly about being paid less than her co-workers.
Indignantly requires a sense of unfair treatment by someone, not just an unlucky situation.
He indignantly refused to eat vegetables.
He indignantly refused to accept the blame for something he did not do.
The adverb suits situations where a person feels wrongly accused or unfairly treated.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Indignantly, angrily, resentfully, and furiously all describe showing anger, but they differ in cause and intensity. Indignantly carries a moral charge — the anger comes from something the speaker believes is unfair or unjust, not merely unpleasant. Angrily is the broadest term, covering any kind of annoyance or rage, from a spilled drink to a betrayal. Resentfully suggests lingering bitterness over a past wrong, often accompanied by a brooding silence rather than an outburst. Furiously describes an explosive, high-intensity anger that may involve shouting or aggressive actions. For example, a worker underpaid for months might complain indignantly to their boss, sit through a meeting resentfully while staring at the clock, then drive home angrily after being dismissed, and finally shout furiously at a family member who asks a simple question.

indignantly ↗angrily ↗resentfullyfuriously ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • quite indignantly
  • almost indignantly
  • rather indignantly

Phrases

  • reply indignantly
  • protest indignantly
  • stare indignantly
  • walk away indignantly
  • look on indignantly

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin indignari, meaning 'to regard as unworthy or be angry at,' formed from the prefix in- ('not') and dignus ('worthy'). The sense of righteous anger at something undeserved has stayed with the word from its Latin roots through French (indigne) into English in the late 1500s.