irate

adjective

ī-ˈrāt 

ˈī-ˌrāt, 

i-ˈrāt

1

: roused to ire

an irate taxpayer

2

: arising from anger

irate words

irately adverb

irateness noun

Synonyms of irate

• angry
• indignant
• enraged
• outraged
• infuriated
• angered
• furious
• mad
• ballistic
• infuriate

Examples of irate in a Sentence

Irate viewers called the television network to complain about the show.

the big increase in cable rates prompted a flood of irate calls and letters

Recent Examples on the Web

Paul Sullivan has been dragged over the coals in the past by irate sports fans/Tribune letter writers for allegedly bringing politics into sports reporting, as if politics weren’t there to begin with. —Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

Instead, staff mostly got screamed at by irate property owners. —Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026

After Peterson was called for an offensive foul in the first half, an irate Self argued with the officials and was tagged with two successive technicals — by different officials. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026

Video captured by a witness appears to show the manager striking the customer with a trash can in an apparent attempt to overwhelm the irate individual. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for irate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

irate

adjective

ī-ˈrāt 

: angry sense 1a

irately adverb

irateness noun