/ˈaʊˌtɹeɪdʒɪz/
Say it backOutrages is a plural noun or verb form meaning acts or instances of extreme anger or shocking behavior; as a verb, it means to affront or anger someone intensely. In everyday use, it often describes actions that provoke strong moral or emotional reactions, or it can mean something that causes public indignation. The word carries a formal or journalistic tone when referring to controversial or provocation-worthy events.
Tips: practice with slow tempo, then insert natural pauses, and record to compare with a model. Use minimal pairs focusing on the /t/ vs /dʒ/ sequence and the /aʊ/ diphthong.
"The politician called the proposed changes outrages to the public trust."
"There were outrages reported during the protest, drawing swift condemnation."
"The documentary documented the outrages committed by the regime."
Pronounced /ˈaʊtˌreɪ.dʒɪz/ (US/UK). Start with a stressed diphthong /ˈaʊ/ as in “now,” then /t/ followed by /ˌreɪ/ as in “rain,” ending with /dʒɪz/ like the “jizz” sound but with a z. In connected speech, the /t/ can be softened toward a flapped or glottal variant before a vowel, but careful enunciation preserves the /t/ and /dʒ/ sequence for crisp meaning.
Common errors: (1) misplacing stress, saying /ˌaʊˈtɹeɪ.dʒɪz/ or /ˈaʊtɹɪdʒɪz/; (2) mispronouncing /ˈreɪ/ as /riː/ or /rə/; (3) merging /t/ with /dʒ/ too abruptly. Correct by: keeping primary stress on the first syllable, clearly releasing the /t/ before the /reɪ/ cluster, and articulating /dʒ/ distinctly before /ɪz/. Practice slow, then natural speed with a focus on the /t/ + /r/ transition.
US/UK/AUS share /ˈaʊtˌreɪ.dʒɪz/, but rhotics and vowel quality differ: US rhotic /r/ is strongly pronounced, UK often non-rhotic in careful speech but may reveal /r/ before vowels; Australian is non-rhotic, with a more centralized /ə/ in unstressed vowels and a lighter /t/ release. The /ˈaʊ/ diphthong and /ˌreɪ/ are similar, but (/dʒɪz/) may be slightly elongated in UK.
Key challenges: the cluster /tˈreɪ/ with a rapid /t/ release into /r/ can trip many speakers; the /dʒ/ sound followed by a syllabic /ɪ/ before a final /z/ requires precise timing; the secondary syllable carries less emphasis but must be clear to avoid mishearing as /out-ridʒɪz/. Practice slow transitions and focus on the /t/ + /r/ linkage.
No hidden boundary; the word is two primary syllables with a clear boundary: /ˈaʊt/ + /ˌreɪ.dʒɪz/. The primary stress sits on the first syllable, while the secondary stress mark appears on the third syllable within the second syllable? In practice, the second syllable group carries secondary emphasis if the word is elongated in speech, especially before a pause or in formal reading. Focus on the primary stress and keep the /ˌ/ light.
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Outrages derives from the Old French outrer, meaning to surpass or overstep, from the earlier outrer (to surpass, go beyond) and the noun outrages from Anglo-Norman outrag(a) and Old French outrage, ultimately from Vulgar Latin outrāgia, from Latin ultra ‘beyond’ combined with agere ‘to drive, do’. The sense evolved in Middle English to refer to acts that go beyond what is morally or legally acceptable, provoking strong reaction. The word entered English with a sense tied to violence or affronts in the 14th–15th centuries, and by the 17th–18th centuries gained broader usage in moral and political contexts, describing shocking or publicly condemnable acts. Over time, “outrage” shifted from a primarily legal or moral term to a general expression for anything deeply offensive or intolerable, with “outrages” used both as a plural noun (the outrages committed) and a verb form (to outrage).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "outrages" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "outrages"
-ges sounds
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