affronts 1 of 2

noun

plural of affront
as in insults
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings took it as an affront that she wasn't invited to say a few words at the ribbon-cutting ceremony

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affronts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of affront
as in offends
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in did not mean to affront you when I told you I didn't need your help

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of affronts
Noun
These things are murders and affronts to the dignity of human life. — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2026 Any tension between them, though, stems from personal affronts, while their ideological differences exist as a largely unremarked upon undercurrent. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, some on Wall Street continue to warn of complacency in financial markets amid affronts to the Fed’s independence, persistent nerves about a bubble and increasingly fraught geopolitics. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026 Shaban’s chief response to this and other affronts is silence. — Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026 And those affronts to standard Hollywood operating procedure threaten millions of jobs across the industry. — Chris Lee, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025 Bukele, after a disastrous month for his image, was not willing to tolerate any more affronts. — Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez, The Dial, 16 Sep. 2025 These constituencies view the sanctions and the tariffs as otherwise legal instruments weaponized for geopolitical purposes—and as direct affronts to Brazil’s democratic integrity. — Hussein Kalout, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affronts
  1. insults
  2. offends
  3. outrages
  4. sarcasms
  5. indignities
Noun
  • There’s blood and insults and exasperation and pain and horror.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The amendment aims to prevent players from hiding insults or other abuse — including discriminatory remarks — behind their hand, arm or jersey.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of insults
Verb
  • But something about this circus just offends me on a spiritual level.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • And if that notion offends you, stay home and watch on television, and turn your man caves into casinos.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
Definition of offends
Noun
  • Look, of the outrages, these are like the least among them, as far as being upset with the administration, with the president.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 June 2026
  • More recently, Tandy Hills experienced issues with ATVs being driven through the park and damaging wildflowers, sparking outrages on social media from people who demanded the city take action.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of outrages
Noun
  • First seen at a night-club table of menacing lowlifes, Ida, whose mother tongue is Brooklynese, suddenly switches to a heavy British accent and dispenses a torrent of highly literary sarcasms.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Definition of sarcasms
Noun
  • Whether Susan was subtly trying to talk me out of the job or simply preparing me for whatever indignities lay ahead was hard to say.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
  • Why be grateful when there are plenty of other people out there who never have to suffer these indignities?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Definition of indignities

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affronts
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Cite this Entry

“Affronts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affronts. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on affronts

Nglish: Translation of affronts for Spanish Speakers

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