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DictionaryaffrontInsult
noun / verb

affront

uh-FRUNT/əˈfrʌnt/

An act that openly insults or offends someone.

Throwing the offered bouquet into the wastebasket is a deliberate affront.

An older woman deliberately pushes a freshly offered bouquet into a wastebasket while looking contemptuously at its giver.
Etymology
afLatinto, toward
+frontLatinforehead, face

The pieces mean “to the face,” behind a verb that could mean confronting someone or slapping that person's face. This physical image became open disrespect, then an offensive remark or deed.

In context

The Hill65:16
because frequently people f focus on our lack of representation, and that is certainly an affront, uh, to us as taxpaying Americans.
Happening Now: Bowser, DC Officials Testify Before House On Oversight Of Nation’s Capital

More examples

  • The rude remark was an affront to every volunteer.
  • She felt affronted by the suggestion that she had cheated.
  • Repeated affronts finally ended their friendship.

Forms

affront · affronts · affronted · affronting

Similar words

insult
Is the general term for offensive words or actions.
slight
Often means a smaller or subtler show of disrespect.