anger 1 of 2

Definition of angernext

anger

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun anger differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of anger are fury, indignation, ire, rage, and wrath. While all these words 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

When could indignation be used to replace anger?

In some situations, the words indignation and anger are roughly equivalent. However, indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

In what contexts can ire take the place of anger?

The meanings of ire and anger largely overlap; however, ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

How do rage and fury relate to one another, in the sense of anger?

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

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

Where would wrath be a reasonable alternative to anger?

While the synonyms wrath and anger are close in meaning, wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge.

I feared her wrath if I was discovered

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of anger
Noun
After sparking anger by donning whiteface in his recent NASCAR and Erika Kirk skits, the viral comedian has done it again for a promo of his BET Awards gig. Tom Tapp, Deadline, 18 June 2026 Investigators have claimed Mangione was motivated by anger toward the health insurance industry, leading to numerous sympathizers who expressed their own disapproval for the health insurance industry in demonstrations and nearby court hearings after Mangione’s arrest. Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Verb
Blanche has also defended the Justice Department seeking charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has angered conservatives in recent years, under his leadership. Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 8 June 2026 Star forward Sardar Azmoun was dropped in March, reportedly because of a social media post that angered Iranian authorities during the war. CBS News, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for anger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anger
Noun
  • Many expressed indignation that a climate-friendly clothing brand would appear to go after a beloved climate activist.
    Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 12 June 2026
  • Others use their out-of-office emails to either apologize profusely for time away or highlight their indignation at being tied to work or the internet in the first place.
    Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • The money raised is not set to go into the state’s Medi-Cal funding but instead into the general fund, infuriating advocates who note Newsom’s budget maintains rollbacks to health insurance for undocumented immigrants, low-income elderly Californians and other vulnerable populations.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026
  • Lawyers just can’t stop being caught using AI chatbots, polluting their filings with hallucinated citations that infuriate judges when they’re caught.
    Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • Soon after, Joslin posted on social media expressing outrage, and the story gained traction online.
    Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
  • The 2023 property tax valuation cycle — and to a lesser extent, the 2024 and 2025 cycles — have been the subject of widespread outrage in Jackson County, with skyrocketing property values alarming homeowners and business owners alike.
    Ilana Arougheti June 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • With those remarks, Cucurella is bound to enrage Culers.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • Before the agreement was announced, Israeli forces struck in Beirut, enraging Trump, who has publicly expressed his fury with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Still social media rage is still engagement of sorts, and the company no doubt raised awareness of its 20th anniversary.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026
  • Jackie's soon-to-be mother-in-law channels all her resentment and rage into breaking up her son's engagement by becoming an absolute terror.
    Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • One of the more common ways bear encounters escalate is when an off-leash dog runs toward a bear, annoys it, and then comes sprinting back to its owner with an angry predator in pursuit.
    Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
  • And get annoyed when people spell it wrong anyway?
    Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • Before the agreement was announced, Israeli forces struck in Beirut, enraging Trump, who has publicly expressed his fury with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
  • Yet for those who have watched the events of recent years with grief and fury, cheering on a team that represents the Islamic Republic feels, to some, like an act of complicity.
    Shirvin Zeinalzadeh, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • Anthropic has advocated for more stringent AI regulations — at times incurring the wrath of the Pentagon and White House — while OpenAI has pushed a more hands-off approach.
    Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
  • Because Cleveland was the visiting club, Steven Kwan drew his wrath.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Anger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anger. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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