aganactesis

/ˌæɡənækˈtisɪs/

aganactesis means an exclamation made out of a sense of deep indignation. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.

aganactesis is pronounced /ˌæɡənækˈtisɪs/.

Why “aganactesis” is a great word

AGANACTESIS — [Noun] An exclamation made from a sense of deep, principled indignation. Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀγανάκτησις (aganáktēsis, "physical pain and irritation"), from ἀγανακτέω (aganaktéō, "to feel irritation, to be vexed"), it transmutes the original sense of a chafing physical ache into moral protest. Unlike an "expletive" (a blunt, general oath expressing anger) or a "lamentation" (a mournful expression of sorrow), aganactesis is the sharp, verbal crack of a moral nerve being struck. It is the stifled cry in the courtroom at a corrupt verdict, the slammed book upon reading a flagrant lie in a trusted text, or the single, loaded word hissed when a sacred line is crossed—the sound of an ethical boundary, once invisible, suddenly made audible.

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀγᾰνάκτησῐς (agănáktēsĭs, “physical pain and irritation”).

noun

An exclamation made out of a sense of deep indignation.