furious

adjective

fu·​ri·​ous ˈfyu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce furious (audio)
Synonyms of furiousnext
1
a(1)
: exhibiting or goaded by anger
She was furious with them for printing the story.
(2)
: indicative of or proceeding from anger
a furious outburst
gave them a furious glare
b
: giving a stormy or turbulent appearance
furious bursts of flame
c
: marked by noise, excitement, activity, or rapidity
worked at a furious pace
2
: intense sense 1a
the furious growth of tropical vegetation
furiously adverb

Examples of furious in a Sentence

She's furious at how slowly the investigation is proceeding. I was furious with them for printing the story. We worked all night at a furious pace.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Meanwhile, if the prize were awarded for power per second of screentime, Gaby Hoffmann, playing a nineteen-sixties dropout in survival mode, would win; her furious silence is as eloquent as her terse determination, and her voice, quietly oracular, is one of the most memorable things in the movie. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026 Some neighbors of Alameda were furious, saying the full-lane reduction would be safer for pedestrians. Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026 On social media, on LinkedIn, on X, on Facebook, even on people’s WhatsApp status, people were furious that something like this had happened. Majirata Latela, The Dial, 22 Jan. 2026 The mild-mannered Danes are atypically furious. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for furious

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French furieus, from Latin furiosus, from furia madness, fury

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of furious was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Furious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/furious. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

furious

adjective
fu·​ri·​ous ˈfyu̇r-ē-əs How to pronounce furious (audio)
1
: very angry
2
: very active : violent
a furious storm
furiously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on furious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!