Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

affront

[ uh-fruhnt ]

noun

  1. a personally offensive act or word; deliberate act or display of disrespect; intentional slight; insult:

    an affront to the king.

    Synonyms: , , , , ,

  2. an offense to one's dignity or self-respect.


verb (used with object)

  1. to offend by an open manifestation of disrespect or insolence:

    His speech affronted all of us.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. to make ashamed or confused; embarrass.
  3. Archaic. to front; face; look on.
  4. Obsolete. to meet or encounter face to face; confront.

affront

/ əˈڰʌԳ /

noun

  1. a deliberate insult
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to insult, esp openly
  2. to offend the pride or dignity of
  3. obsolete.
    to confront defiantly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ·ڰDzԳĻ· adverb
  • ·ڰDzԳĻ·Ա noun
  • ·ڰDzԳİ noun
  • ·ڰDzԳiԲ· adverb
  • a·ڰDzԳ noun verb (used with object)
  • ܲa·ڰDzԳĻ adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of affront1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English afrounten, from Middle French af(f)ronter “to strike in the face,” from unattested Vulgar Latin ڴڰDzԳ, derivative of Latin phrase ad frontem “at or toward the forehead” (as the seat of one's feelings or dignity). See ad-, front
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of affront1

C14: from Old French afronter to strike in the face, from Vulgar Latin ڴڰDzԳ (unattested), from the Latin phrase ad frontem to the face
Discover More

Synonym Study

See insult.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Latey's production company, says the show "rocked the boat", but is far from an affront to Ethiopian culture.

From

Over the decades, doing business with Vietnam has evolved from an affront that could result in death threats to a common profession that keeps Little Saigon stores stocked with affordable goods.

From

Some public historians, left reeling from DOGE-spearheaded cuts to federal humanities and arts funding, view the order as an affront to the scholarship and nuance that undergirds the institutions' evidence-based tellings of American history.

From

"This act was not just a diplomatic affront. This wasn't about security. It was about control and censorship," the MP for Sheffield Central added.

From

She added: "Parents are already struggling with fairly reasonable fees – now 20% on top does seem an affront to human rights."

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


affrightaffrontive