umbrage

[ uhm-brij ]

noun

1. offense; annoyance; displeasure:

   to feel umbrage at a social snub; to give umbrage to someone; to take umbrage at someone's rudeness.

   Synonyms: resentment, grudge, pic

2. the slightest indication or vaguest feeling of suspicion, doubt, hostility, or the like.
3. leaves that afford shade, as the foliage of trees.
4. shade or shadows, as cast by trees.
5. a shadowy appearance or semblance of something.

umbrage

/ ˈʌmbrɪdʒ /

noun

1. displeasure or resentment; offence (in the phrase give or take umbrage )
2. the foliage of trees, considered as providing shade
3. rare.
   shadow or shade
4. archaic.
   a shadow or semblance

Word History and Origins

Origin of umbrage¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Old French; umbra, -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of umbrage¹

C15: from Old French umbrage, from Latin umbrāticus relating to shade, from umbra shade, shadow

Example Sentences

Relying on simply repeating Trump’s tirades to stoke voters’ umbrage has never worked, and it won’t work now.

From Salon

Kagan also appeared to take umbrage with Michel's claim.

From Salon

Trump ridiculed the Democrats; the Democrats recoiled in wounded umbrage.

From Salon

And so Geragos took umbrage at efforts by prosecutors to prevent or limit his team from speaking about the 1972 death of Hunter Biden’s mother and sister in a car crash or the 2015 death of his brother due to brain cancer.

From Los Angeles Times

After draining a three-pointer over Victoria Vivians midway in the second quarter, Clark took umbrage with the tight defensive coverage and an apparent bump after the shot.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• annoyance
• displeasure
• offense