umbrage

noun

um·​brage ˈəm-brij How to pronounce umbrage (audio)
1
: a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult
took umbrage at the speaker's remarks
2
: shady branches : foliage
3
4
a
: an indistinct indication : vague suggestion : hint
b
: a reason for doubt : suspicion

Did you know?

Umbrage is a word born in the shadows. Its ultimate source (and that of umbrella) is Latin umbra, meaning “shade, shadow,” and when it was first used in the 15th century it referred to exactly that. But figurative use followed relatively quickly. Shakespeare wrote of Hamlet that "his semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more,” and by the 17th century this meaning of “vague suggestion; hint,” had been joined by other uses, including the “feeling of resentment or offense” heard today in such sentences as “many took umbrage at the speaker’s tasteless jokes.” The word’s early literal use is not often encountered, though it does live on in literature: for example, in her 1849 novel, Charlotte Brontë describes how the titular Shirley would relax “at the foot of some tree of friendly umbrage.”

Choose the Right Synonym for umbrage

offense, resentment, umbrage, pique, dudgeon, huff mean an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity.

offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

Examples of umbrage in a Sentence

took umbrage at the slightest suggestion of disrespect
Recent Examples on the Web However, Pistons coach Monty Williams took umbrage with the Suns speaking out about the incident before an NBA investigation could determine what happened between Stewart and Eubanks before the game. Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024 The script surrounding the two autocrats’ confab is one of unity and umbrage with the West. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2023 Giamatti, for his part, takes no umbrage with coziness. Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2024 Since then, Hollywood has not produced a single film about women that’s not mired in umbrage or ineptitude. Armond White, National Review, 26 July 2023 As a hardscrabble collection of high-school dropouts and juvenile delinquents, the Replacements’ four members came by their umbrage and fatalism organically. Elizabeth Nelson, The New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2023 People may take umbrage with the things a company says or does for a seemingly endless number of reasons, and because these grievances are difficult—if not impossible—to predict sometimes, the list of brands targeted by a consumer boycott appears to grow year after year. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 Her appointment comes amidst online umbrage generated by the announcement last week that Seán McGirr would replace Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, another white male joining the ranks of creative directors at luxury fashion brands in Paris and Milan. Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2023 Yet Fain took umbrage at Biden publicly suggesting that the negotiations had broken down and that this had led to the strike. Josh Boak, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'umbrage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin umbraticum, neuter of umbraticus of shade, from umbratus, past participle of umbrare to shade, from umbra shade, shadow; akin to Lithuanian unksmė shadow

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of umbrage was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near umbrage

Cite this Entry

“Umbrage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umbrage. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

umbrage

noun
um·​brage ˈəm-brij How to pronounce umbrage (audio)
: resentment, offense
take umbrage at a remark

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