Vocabulary
Indignant: meaning, tone, and examples in English
A passenger is charged twice for the same ticket and asks for an explanation. She is angry, but indignant says more: she believes the charge is unfair.
Use indignant for anger caused by perceived unfairness, and choose a more precise or neutral word when that cause is not part of the meaning.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
indignant /ɪnˈdɪɡ.nənt/
The short answer
Indignant means feeling or showing anger because you believe that something unfair or wrong has happened.
The customers were indignant when the store refused to honor the advertised price.
Why it works: Their anger comes from a rule or decision they see as unfair.
5 more examples
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Maya was indignant at the suggestion that she had copied the report.
Maya feels offended because the suggestion questions her honesty.
Not this:Maya was
worried abouta mistake in the report. What changes: Worried names concern. Indignant names anger connected to an unfair or insulting suggestion. -
Several residents sent an indignant letter about the sudden library closure.
The letter expresses protest because the residents see the decision as unfair.
Not this:Several residents sent
a polite letterabout the library schedule. What changes: Polite describes the manner of the letter. Indignant describes its angry response to perceived unfairness. -
He gave an indignant reply when the waiter blamed him for the broken glass.
His response shows anger at being blamed for something he says he did not do.
Not this:He gave
a calm replywhen the waiter asked about the broken glass. What changes: Calm describes a controlled manner. Indignant signals an angry reaction to blame or unfair treatment. -
The players were indignant that the final score had been changed without an explanation.
The that clause states the event that the players consider unfair.
Not this:The players were
disappointed thatthe final score was low. What changes: Disappointed can describe an unwanted result. Indignant adds the belief that the process or decision was unfair. -
Nora spoke indignantly after someone took credit for her idea.
Indignantly is the adverb form and describes how Nora spoke.
Not this:Nora
spoke quietlyafter the meeting ended. What changes: Quietly describes volume. Indignantly describes a tone of angry protest.
Read the full guide
Use indignant when the reason for the anger matters. It often appears in reports, formal discussion, and narrative writing when a person reacts to an accusation, a decision, or unequal treatment.
Start with unfairness
Indignant describes anger with a reason: the speaker thinks a rule, accusation, or action is unfair. The word often suggests that the person wants the unfairness to be recognized or corrected.
Priya was indignant when her name was left off the team list by mistake.
Use indignant for a person or a reaction
You can describe the person who feels the anger, or the response that shows it. An indignant customer, an indignant look, and an indignant letter all point to the same kind of angry protest.
Her indignant expression showed that she thought the accusation was unfair.
Choose the right pattern
Use indignant at, about, or over before a thing or event: indignant at the accusation, indignant about the charge, or indignant over the decision. Use indignant that before a full clause when you want to state the reason.
They were indignant over the new rule because nobody had been consulted.
Compare indignant with angry
Angry is broad. You may be angry about noise, bad weather, or a long wait. Indignant is narrower: it says that the anger is tied to perceived unfairness or disrespect.
I was angry because the train was late. I was indignant because I was charged for a ticket twice. The second sentence gives a reason that seems unfair.
Notice tone and evidence
Calling someone indignant can suggest that their reaction is justified, but it does not prove that they are right. In a neutral report, explain what happened first, then use indignant if the person clearly expresses a belief that they were treated unfairly.
The article reported that the tenants were indignant after receiving the unexplained fee.
Choose a word that fits
A colleague is irritated because the office is cold. Is indignant the best word?
Usually no. Say irritated, uncomfortable, or annoyed unless the colleague believes that an unfair action or decision caused the cold office.
Before you go
Remember this
Use indignant for anger that comes with a sense of unfairness, insult, or wrongdoing. Say indignant at, about, or over something, or indignant that followed by a clause. Choose angry or upset when you only know that a person has a strong negative feeling.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Indignant: meaning, tone, and examples in English"
What does indignant mean?
Indignant means feeling or showing anger because you believe that someone has acted unfairly, disrespectfully, or wrongly. The word often suggests a reaction of protest rather than anger alone.
Maya was indignant at the suggestion that she had copied the report.
Is indignant the same as angry?
Indignant is a type of anger. Use angry for any strong negative feeling; use indignant when the person also believes that an action, accusation, rule, or treatment was unfair.
Maya was worried about a mistake in the report.
Which prepositions follow indignant?
Common patterns are indignant at an accusation, indignant about a charge, and indignant over a decision. You can also use indignant that followed by a clause to state the reason for the reaction.
Several residents sent an indignant letter about the sudden library closure.
Can indignant describe a letter or a tone?
Yes. An indignant letter, reply, look, or tone shows angry protest about something seen as unfair. The adjective can describe the reaction as well as the person who feels it.
Several residents sent a polite letter about the library schedule.
How do you pronounce indignant?
Indignant is pronounced /ɪnˈdɪɡ.nənt/. Say in-DIG-nuhnt, with the strongest stress on the middle syllable. The related adverb is indignantly.
He gave an indignant reply when the waiter blamed him for the broken glass.
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