wrathful

adjective

wrath·​ful ˈrath-fəl How to pronounce wrathful (audio)
chiefly British ˈrȯth-
Synonyms of wrathfulnext
1
: filled with wrath : irate
2
: arising from, marked by, or indicative of wrath
wrathfully
ˈrath-fə-lē How to pronounce wrathful (audio)
chiefly British ˈrȯth-
adverb
wrathfulness noun

Examples of wrathful in a Sentence

in a wrathful voice she demanded to know what had happened
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.
The sculpture depicts Krishna, the protector, raising a mountain with his left arm to shield cowherds from the wrathful storm unleashed by Indra—a pivotal motif in Khmer art. Li Qi, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2026 The earliest depictions of slavery were already crawling with the terrible proceedings the Gothic tends to depict, from bloody whippings to family curses to the wrathful wraiths of the slain enslaved. Literary Hub, 20 Feb. 2026 The best scenes of the series are the simple ones between the pair, like their fizzy first date or their wrathful first fight. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026 Bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile aimed wrathful lyrics and gallows humor at a culture of misogyny that plagued their daily lives, from condescending male musicians to abusive fathers. Judy Berman, Time, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrathful

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wrathful was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wrathful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wrathful. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

wrathful

adjective
wrath·​ful ˈrath-fəl How to pronounce wrathful (audio)
1
: filled with wrath : very angry
2
: showing wrath
a wrathful expression
wrathfully adverb
wrathfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wrathful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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