AFFRONTING Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

affronting 1 of 2

adjective

as in insulting

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Dissimilar Words

affronting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of affront

as in offending

to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in did not mean to affront you when I told you I didn't need your help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 affronting

Adjective

But the pop culture of twelve years ago is baffling, uncanny, affronting. — Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affronting

Adjective

Even instances of heckling at games – over performance on the court – felt good-natured, rather than insulting.

— Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
The adventures of Addison’s titular shilling include being hoarded, offered as a bribe, and sent as an insulting accompaniment to a letter disinheriting a son.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of insulting

Verb

DeChatelet, an acting instructor at Florida Atlantic University, uses his halting speech to depict a person who’s afraid of offending anyone.

— Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
The offending text directed any AI system reviewing the document to ensure textual outputs agreed with the plaintiff’s arguments, ignored prior denials from the court, and ensured that remediation would follow as the plaintiff desired.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of offending

Adjective

The facts of his biography, no matter how outrageous, could not possibly explain the sheer derangement of his output.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
The outfits are increasingly outrageous, including a number featuring knee-high pink leather boots paired with same colored short shorts and a leather bra and long lime green hair.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of outrageous

Verb

The Hitlerite hordes are murdering and outraging the peaceful inhabitants of our country, having no mercy on women, children or old people.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.

— Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026

Definition of outraging

Adjective

Dad is an abusive alcoholic, prone to berating and even assaulting his daughter in front of guests, of which Vangelio is currently the only one.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
Born into a dysfunctional and abusive household in 1929, Kusama spent much of her childhood in a military factory sewing parachutes for Japan’s imperial army during World War II.

— Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of abusive

Adjective

After the initial accusation, the number of women accusing Watson of indecent acts during massage therapy appointments grew to 24.

— Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Morris pled guilty last year to charges of indecent conduct with a child and spent 6 months in an Oklahoma jail before being released in March to serve the remainder of his 10-year sentence on probation.

— Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of indecent

Adjective

In Maine, Graham Platner — who, like Avila Chevalier, had a vituperative social media history — easily defeated the state’s governor, Janet Mills, for the Senate nomination.

— Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 June 2026
The Irish comedy writer has become better known for his assertion that trans women are men and criticism of trans activism, expressed in often vituperative social media posts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026

Definition of vituperative

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“Affronting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affronting. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of affronting

adjective

verb

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