What does outraging mean?
Outraging is the present participle of the verb outrage and describes conduct or decisions that provoke intense anger, shock, or moral indignation. A person may be outraged by an injustice, insult, act of cruelty, or perceived abuse of power, while an action may be called outraging when it violates serious moral or social expectations. The word is especially common in formal reporting, political language, and public debate, where it emphasizes both outrage and the seriousness of the offending act. It can also appear before a noun, as in “an outraging decision,” although “outrageous decision” is more usual in everyday English. Related forms include the noun outrage, the verb outrages, the adjective outrageous, and the less common adjectival use of outraging itself.
To cause someone to feel intense anger or indignation; to scandalize or affront.
"The chairman apologized for remarks that outraged members of the audience."
This is the present participle of outrage and normally takes a direct object.
Causing or expressing outrage; shockingly offensive or morally objectionable.
"Residents described the dismissal as an outraging decision."
This attributive use is less common than the adjective outrageous.
Sometimes one incident outrages us; sometimes outrage becomes the very thing that unites us in protest.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outraging come from?
Outraging derives from outrage, a word that entered English from Old French outrage. The Old French form developed from outre, meaning “beyond,” and rage, conveying the idea of excessive or overwhelming anger. The related adjective outrageous and the present-participle form outraging were subsequently formed within English.
Related word forms
How outraging is actually used
The spelling outraging is standard in British and American English. As a verb form, it is normally used with a direct object: something outrages someone. In its attributive use, it may sound more emphatic or literary than the more common phrase outrageous.
Easily confused with outraging
Outraging is usually a verb form describing an action that causes outrage, whereas outrageous is an adjective meaning extremely bad, shocking, or excessive.
Outrage is the base noun and verb form; outraging is its present participle, as in an outraging decision.