wounded pride
Stung sense of self
Wounded pride is the painful feeling that follows a blow to one's self-esteem or sense of worth.
The wound is emotional rather than physical—a public failure, a sharp criticism, or being overlooked can all leave someone nursing wounded pride: His wounded pride kept him from apologizing first.
The phrase suggests injury that lingers and may provoke defensive or retaliatory behavior.
- bruised egoHurt self-regard
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- stingSharp wound from insect
- insultOffensive remark or action
hurt feelings · embarrassment · indignation · slighted · offended · snubbed · rejection · deflated · taken down a peg · mortified · bitter · resentful · scorned · diminished · belittled · crushed · smarting · affront
- humiliationashamed, abasement, embarrassed, chagrin, mortified
- bad feelingssadness, anger, fear, grief, sorrow
- bad bloodanimosity, hostility, enmity, resentment, grudge
- heartbreakheartache, broken heart, heartbreak, dumping, lost love
- resentmentresentful, grudge, bitterness, rancor, spite
- sensitivitysensitivity, sensitive, hypersensitivity, oversensitivity, hypersensitive
wounded prideswelled head
Excessive self-importance
vindication · triumph · self-satisfaction · smugness · ego boost
wounded pridethick skin
Immunity to criticism
imperviousness · equanimity · emotional resilience · humility · egolessness
wound, wounds, wounding, wounded, pride, prides, prided, priding, prideful