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Miff: meaning, definitions and examples

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miff

 

[ mɪf ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

to offend

To miff someone means to offend or annoy them, often in a minor way. It can describe a situation where someone's feelings are hurt due to a careless remark or action.

Synonyms

annoy, displease, irk, offend

Examples of usage

  • I didn't mean to miff you with my comment.
  • He was miffed when I forgot his birthday.
  • Don't miff her; she’s been in a bad mood all day.
Context #2 | Noun

a disagreement

A miff is a minor disagreement or quarrel between friends or acquaintances. It often involves a misunderstanding or slight that doesn't have serious implications.

Synonyms

spat, squabble, tiff

Examples of usage

  • They had a little miff over the dinner plans.
  • It's just a miff; I'm sure they'll make up soon.
  • After their miff, they decided to talk it out.

Translations

Translations of the word "miff" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mau humor

🇮🇳 चिढ़ा हुआ

🇩🇪 mürrisch

🇮🇩 kesal

🇺🇦 неприязний

🇵🇱 zrzędliwy

🇯🇵 不機嫌な

🇫🇷 de mauvaise humeur

🇪🇸 de mal humor

🇹🇷 huysuz

🇰🇷 기분 나쁜

🇸🇦 غاضب

🇨🇿 mrzutý

🇸🇰 mrzutý

🇨🇳 心情不好

🇸🇮 jezen

🇮🇸 þunglyndur

🇰🇿 күйзелген

🇬🇪 მწყრალო

🇦🇿 narahat

🇲🇽 de mal humor

Etymology

The word 'miff' is believed to have originated in the early 19th century, with its earliest recorded use dating back to around 1812. The exact etymology is uncertain; however, it is thought to have derived from the English dialect term denoting a slight annoyance or vexation. It could also be linked to the Scottish word 'miff', indicating a minor altercation or disagreement. The usage of 'miff' has primarily remained informal, often employed in casual conversations to describe a brief and mild confrontation or misunderstanding between individuals. Over time, it has evolved to encompass not only the act of offending someone but also the minor disputes that can arise in everyday interactions.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #42,092, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.