indignation

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/ UK /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
anger aroused by something perceived as unjust or unworthy

Her voice shook with indignation at the unfair accusation.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · anger aroused by something... anger resentment outrage wrath umbrage ire

Opposites

pleasure approval contentment

Word family

Related forms indignant indignity dignity disdain

Etymology

From Latin indignatio ('displeasure, anger'), from indignari ('to regard as unworthy, be angry'), from indignus ('unworthy'), from in- ('not') + dignus ('worthy').

indignari Latin dignus Latin *deḱ- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# indignation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/

## Meanings
1. anger aroused by something perceived as unjust or unworthy

## Examples
- Her voice shook with indignation at the unfair accusation.

## Synonyms
- anger
- resentment
- outrage
- wrath
- umbrage
- ire

## Antonyms
- pleasure
- approval
- contentment

## Related Forms
- indignant
- indignity
- dignity
- disdain

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: indignari
- Root: dignus
- Root: *deḱ-

## Etymology
From Latin indignatio ('displeasure, anger'), from indignari ('to regard as unworthy, be angry'), from indignus ('unworthy'), from in- ('not') + dignus ('worthy').

## AI Etymology
indignation comes from Latin indignatio ('displeasure, anger'), from indignari ('to regard as unworthy, be angry'), from indignus ('unworthy'), from in- ('not') + dignus ('worthy'). Morphologically, the prefixed shape matters: the initial element belongs to the recorded formation and helps explain the modern form's surface analysis. In present English, the noun sense is "anger aroused by something perceived as unjust or unworthy", so the historical development ends in a clearly identifiable modern dictionary use. The same base also appears in related forms such as indignant, indignity, dignity, and disdain. Its semantic neighborhood includes anger, resentment, outrage, and wrath, which helps locate the modern sense without adding a separate etymological claim. The named historical forms include Latin indignari, Latin dignus, and Proto-Indo-European *deḱ-.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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