l’outrage
outrage
Definition & meaning
Outrage is a masculine French noun: un outrage. It refers to a serious insult, offense, or violation that attacks someone’s dignity, honor, modesty, or rights.
Depending on the context, it can mean:
-
A grave insult or affront
- Cet affront est un outrage à son honneur. — “This affront is an insult to his honor.”
- Il a été victime d’un outrage. — “He was subjected to a serious insult.”
-
An offense against a principle, institution, or value
- un outrage à la morale — “an offense against morality”
- un outrage à la dignité humaine — “an affront to human dignity”
- un outrage à la pudeur — “an indecent or sexually offensive act”
-
An insult directed at a public official while carrying out their duties, especially in legal or administrative language
- un outrage à agent — “insulting or verbally abusing a public official”
Unlike the English word “outrage,” which often means intense anger or indignation, French outrage usually refers to the offensive act itself. The feeling of indignation is generally expressed by indignation .
Grammar & Word origin
- Gender: masculine
- Singular: un outrage
- Plural: des outrages
- Related verb: outrager — “to insult,” “to offend,” or “to outrage”
- Related adjective: outragé — “offended,” “outraged,” or “insulted”
The word comes from Old French outrage , derived from outre , meaning “beyond.” Its original idea was that of going beyond acceptable limits.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- affront : an insult or humiliation directed at a person; often emphasizes personal dishonor.
- offense : a broader and usually less intense term for something that causes hurt or displeasure.
- insulte : a direct verbal or behavioral insult; generally more concrete and personal.
- injure : an insult or attack on someone’s honor, often in a formal or literary register.
- profanation : an act that treats something sacred or respected with disrespect.
Antonyms
There is no single exact antonym, but contrasting ideas include:
- respect : proper consideration for someone’s dignity or rights.
- honneur : the dignity or good reputation that an outrage attacks.
- courtoisie : polite and considerate behavior.
- réparation : an act intended to compensate for or correct an offense.
Common phrases & collocations
- commettre un outrage — to commit an outrage
- subir un outrage — to suffer an insult or outrage
- être victime d’un outrage — to be the victim of an outrage
- un outrage à la dignité humaine — an affront to human dignity
- un outrage à la pudeur — an indecent or sexually offensive act
- crier à l’outrage — to cry “outrage” or strongly protest an offense
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Examples
Cet outrage me choque.noun
This outrage shocks me.
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