indignant
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of indignant
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin indignant- (stem of indignāns, present participle of indignārī “to deem unworthy, take offense”), equivalent to in- in- 3 + dign-, stem of dignus “worthy” + -ant- -ant
Explanation
When you're indignant, you're angry about an unfair situation. If you discovered that a teacher gave ten extra points on a test to all students who sat in the front row, you'd be indignant. Indignant is from Latin indignus "unworthy," and it refers to anger based on unworthy or unfair behavior rather than merely injury to one's own interests. You may be angry, even furious, if someone shoves you, but you are indignant if the shove is directed at someone weak or helpless. The related noun is indignation, and something that arouses indignation is an indignity.
Vocabulary lists containing indignant
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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The Outsiders
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But no one before or since has fallen into paroxysms of indignant rage over the alleged vapidity of middlebrow cultural efforts quite like Macdonald.
From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026
Recalling the day in a recent interview with The Times, Cook quickly turns indignant about the bureaucratic odyssey that yellow slip launched.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
In a sense, the film is a biography of a property—alive, indignant, eager to speak of its own spirits.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026
"Absolutely not," was his indignant answer to the last question.
From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026
Around mid-morning, Wolf startled a clutch of willow grouse, who shot skywards with indignant gobbles.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
