rage

1 of 2

noun

ˈrāj 

1

a

: violent and uncontrolled anger

b

: a fit of violent wrath

c

archaic : insanity

2

: violent action (as of wind or sea)

3

: an intense feeling : passion

4

: a fad pursued with intense enthusiasm

was all the rage

rage

2 of 2

verb

raged; raging

intransitive verb

1

: to be in a rage

2

: to be in tumult

3

: to prevail uncontrollably

Synonyms of rage

Noun

• frenzy
• rampage
• fury

Verb

• storm

Choose the Right Synonym for rage

anger, ire, rage, fury, indignation, wrath mean an intense emotional state induced by displeasure.

anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.

shook with rage

could not contain his fury

indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge.

I feared her wrath if I was discovered

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date.

fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time

crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

Examples of rage in a Sentence

Noun

Her note to him was full of rage.

He was shaking with rage.

She was seized by a murderous rage.

His rages rarely last more than a few minutes.

Verb

She raged about the injustice of their decision.

The manager raged at the umpire.

A storm was raging outside, but we were warm and comfortable indoors.

The fire raged for hours.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This is all in the first three paragraphs, and the breakdowns—a capacious category that, for Lemann, seems to encompass everything from rages to amiable fugues—do not let up. —Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026

Like all of us, Laura had some damage and rage fueling her passion for protest. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026

Verb

Then Keynes believed the government should lower spending like a parent turning down the music at a raging party. —Alex Mayyasi, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026

For now, Iranians are left waiting, even as the war rages on. —Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin rabia, from Latin rabies rage, madness, from rabere to be mad; akin to Sanskrit rabhas violence

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rage

• air rage
• (all) the rage
• fly into a rage
• incandescent with rage
• rage-quit
• rage-quitting
• road rage
• roid rage

Rhymes for rage

• age
• gauge
• phage
• plage
• stage
• wage
• alienage
• assuage
• backstage
• bocage
• downstage
• engage

Kids Definition

rage

1 of 2 noun

ˈrāj 

1

a

: very strong and uncontrolled anger

b

: a fit of violent anger

2

: violent action (as of wind or sea)

3

: fad

the current rage

rage

2 of 2 verb

raged; raging

1

: to be in a rage

2

: to continue out of control

the fire raged for hours

Medical Definition

rage

noun

ˈrāj 

: violent and uncontrolled anger