French word

froissant

Pronunciation

IPA/fʁwasɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivehurtful

Example

Cette remarque était froissante.

This remark was hurtful.

Illustration for froissant (hurtful)

More examples

Il a employé un ton froissant lors de la réunion.

He used a hurtful tone during the meeting.

Core concept

Words that press against a sensitive spot and leave the listener inwardly creased.

Common phrases

  • ton froissant

    hurtful tone

  • remarque froissante

    hurtful remark

  • propos froissants

    hurtful words

Similar words

blessant: Causing emotional hurt through painful or hurtful words.
injurieux: Attacking someone with insulting and offensive language.
humiliant: Causing shame by treating someone as beneath their dignity.

Definition in French

Qui offense ou contrarie quelqu'un en touchant sa sensibilité ; applicable à une parole, un ton ou une attitude.

Word origin

Froissant uses the participial form of froisser, a verb meaning to crease or crumple that also developed the sense of offending someone's feelings.

Usage tips

  • Froissant describes what causes offense, whereas froissé describes the person or feeling left offended: une remarque froissante, un collègue froissé.

Other meanings

  • offensiveadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • froisseroffendverb
  • froisséoffendedadjective

Word lists with this word