affront

[ uh-fruhnt ]

noun

1. a personally offensive act or word; deliberate act or display of disrespect; intentional slight; insult:

   an affront to the king.

   Synonyms: outrage, abuse, indignity, scorn, contumely, impertinence

2. an offense to one's dignity or self-respect.

verb (used with object)

1. to offend by an open manifestation of disrespect or insolence:

   His speech affronted all of us.

   Synonyms: abuse, slight, insult

2. to make ashamed or confused; embarrass.
3. Archaic. to front; face; look on.
4. Obsolete. to meet or encounter face to face; confront.

affront

/ əˈfrʌnt /

noun

1. a deliberate insult

verb

1. to insult, esp openly
2. to offend the pride or dignity of
3. obsolete.
   to confront defiantly

Other Words From

• af·fronted·ly adverb
• af·fronted·ness noun
• af·fronter noun
• af·fronting·ly adverb
• reaf·front noun verb (used with object)
• unaf·fronted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of affront¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English afrounten, from Middle French af(f)ronter “to strike in the face,” from unattested Vulgar Latin affrontāre, derivative of Latin phrase ad frontem “at or toward the forehead” (as the seat of one's feelings or dignity). See ad-, front

Word History and Origins

Origin of affront¹

C14: from Old French afronter to strike in the face, from Vulgar Latin affrontāre (unattested), from the Latin phrase ad frontem to the face

Synonym Study

See insult.

Example Sentences

Critics see the deal as an affront to South Africa's long-standing relationship with Russia - though the country has remained neutral on the conflict in Ukraine.

From BBC

“The RBG PAC has no connection to the Ginsburg family and is an affront to my late grandmother’s legacy,” abortion rights attorney and Ginsburg’s granddaughter Clara Spera said in a statement to the New York Times.

From Salon

It can represent an affront to a supposed American meritocracy, while also being a reminder of a poorly done or cumbersome mandatory workplace training.

From Salon

And it’s an affront to North Carolinians at large, whose right to a fair, orderly election has been sabotaged by a lawless court and the candidate it so obviously favors.

From Slate

“Donald Trump is using footage and photos his campaign took at Arlington National Cemetery for political purposes,” it noted, describing it as “sickening” and an “affront to all those hundreds of thousands of families who never agreed to allow their deceased loved ones to be dragged into politics.”

From Salon