indignation
C1Formal / Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Strong anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair, unjust, or offensive treatment.
A reactive, morally-charged emotion, often expressed collectively or publicly, directed against perceived injustice, hypocrisy, or unfairness.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a sense of righteous anger; the injustice is typically directed at oneself or others deserving of sympathy. Not used for trivial annoyances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Syntactic patterns and collocational preferences are identical.
Connotations
Identical moral and righteous connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English corpus data, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Indignation at/over/about somethingIndignation that + clauseIndignation with/towards someoneVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(One's) gorge rises (at something) - a feeling of intense disgust or indignation.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used regarding unfair business practices, executive pay disparities, or perceived inequitable treatment of employees.
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, and ethics discussing social justice, collective action, or moral philosophy.
Everyday
Used when discussing perceived personal slights, unfair policies, or hypocritical behaviour in news/media.
Technical
Not typically a technical term; used in its standard sense in legal or political discourse.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was rightly indignant at being overlooked for the promotion.
American English
- She felt indignant about the false accusations published online.
adverb
British English
- 'That's simply not true!', she said indignantly.
adjective
British English
- His indignant reply made the situation even more tense.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There was public indignation when the park was closed.
- Her voice trembled with indignation as she described the unfair decision.
- The policy reversal was met with widespread indignation from stakeholders who had been assured of its permanence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: IN DIGging a NATION, you might uncover INJUSTICE, causing INDIGNATION.
Conceptual Metaphor
INDIGNATION IS HEAT/A PRESSURE (e.g., boiling with indignation, simmering indignation, vent one's indignation).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'indignation' as a direct cognate of Russian 'индигнация' (obsolete/legal confiscation).
- Closer to 'возмущение', 'негодование'.
- False friend with 'indifferent' which is unrelated.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for mild irritation (e.g., 'I felt indignation when it rained').
- Confusing with 'indignity' (humiliating treatment).
- Misspelling as 'indignitation'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to cause indignation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Indignation is a specific type of anger, morally grounded and triggered by perceived injustice or unfairness, whereas 'anger' is a general term for strong displeasure.
While unpleasant, it is often viewed positively as a justified, socially-conscious response to wrongs, motivating corrective action.
No. The correct prepositions are 'indignation at/over/about something' or 'indignation with/towards someone'.
No. 'Indignation' is the noun (the feeling). 'Indignant' is the adjective describing a person feeling indignation.
Collections
Part of a collection
Nuanced Emotions
C2 · 48 words · Precise vocabulary for complex emotional states.
Explore