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ruffled feathers

NOUN

offense

Synonyms

WEAK

affront aggression assailment assault attack battery black eye blitz blitzkrieg dig dirty dig dudgeon harm hit huff hurt indignation indignity injury injustice left-handed compliment miff mugging onset onslaught outrage pique push put-down resentment slam slap in the face slight snub umbrage zinger

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His methods ruffled feathers in both the private sector and in Congress.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

This ruffled feathers in a way none of her previous campaigns had, and the pushback she received only fed her beliefs about vast conspiracies.

From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026

If these sources are coming from inside Meta, it is a sign of ruffled feathers both inside and outside the new lab.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

In her book, Finding Forgotten Cities: How the Indus Civilization Was Discovered, historian Nayanjot Lahiri writes that Banerjee "lacked diplomacy and tact and displayed a high-handedness that ruffled feathers".

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2025

It is impossible to tell whether Osiander’s preface soothed any ruffled feathers at the Vatican, but the evidence suggests that there were no ruffled feathers there to soothe.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin