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as in shrew
a bad-tempered scolding woman tradition has it that Socrates' wife was such a fury that the philosopher's death sentence by the authorities was not an entirely unwelcome fate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun fury differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fury are anger, indignation, ire, rage, and wrath. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

When might anger be a better fit than fury?

The synonyms anger and fury are sometimes interchangeable, but anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

In what contexts can indignation take the place of fury?

The words indignation and fury are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

When is it sensible to use ire instead of fury?

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

cheeks flushed with ire

When would wrath be a good substitute for fury?

In some situations, the words wrath and fury are roughly equivalent. However, 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 fury The anticlimactic conclusion and the administration's refusal to release further files sparked fury from parts of Trump's base, especially activists and influencers who had built expectations around broader revelations. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025 Despite that warning, an investigation by The Los Angeles Times found the city’s fire department opted to not deploy in advance about 1,000 personnel and fire engines to respond to any potential fires that might be sparked by the fury of wind that began descending on the area. Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 12 July 2025 For centuries, glaciers have sat like frosty crowns atop slumbering volcanoes, keeping Earth’s fury tucked safely beneath layers of ice. Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 11 July 2025 Chayefsky’s script is fire-breathing — dense, literate, pulsing with fury — and the performances rise to meet it. arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fury
Noun
  • And the team has since published the complete genomic coding sequences for the new virus – Gainesville shrew mammalian orthoreovirus type 3 strain UF-1.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 July 2025
  • For the study, researchers looked at 1,376 vertebrate species known to eat some amount of carrion, ranging from tiger sharks and spotted hyenas to cane toads and common shrews.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • But, in the frenzy to get ready, don’t forget about the hospital bag essentials that’ll make your delivery experience (hopefully) a little easier.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Centered between the Kelce brothers was a silhouette resembling Swift, sending fans into a frenzy.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • For those on the fringes of the fan protest, maintaining the anger to rally against those in charge probably becomes harder in those circumstances.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Rodgers said that Wong, during a psychological evaluation while in custody, denied having problems controlling his anger and said he’s never been verbally abusive, threatening or violent when angry.
    Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • While Jurassic World Rebirth might still be rumbling through the global cinema jungle like a rampage of T-Rexes, adding to a worldwide cinematic take that already exceeds three quarters of a billion dollars, Universal has already announced details of its blockbuster’s home video release.
    John Archer, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The gunman who opened fire at a Reno casino on Monday fired 80 shots during a deadly rampage that left three people dead and several others injured, authorities said Tuesday, though the shooter’s motive remains unclear.
    Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
Noun
  • At the heart of Nugent’s indignation was the 2021 sting operation that entangled him and three other landowners in a legal battle with the DNR.
    Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 30 July 2025
  • That indignation, those headlines, the praise for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s bravery and leadership cooling dramatically since those early days–in Europe and America.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • The Rainmaker is a taut thriller driven by relentless cynicism toward the state of the legal profession and simmering rage at the state of the health insurance industry.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
  • As protests rage at home, Iran's theocratic government is increasingly flexing its military muscle abroad.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The episode also teases Cartman’s wrath at Bebe, another student at South Park Elementary.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 29 July 2025
  • Countries that didn’t knuckle under — and those that found other ways to incur Trump’s wrath — got hit harder.
    Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This, and the revisions to May and June's data—which the agency said resulted from subsequent reports from businesses and government agencies—prompted outrage from the president.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
  • France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States were among countries to express outrage, and Israel's foreign ministry announced that the U.N. Security Council will hold a special session Aug. 5 on the hostages in Gaza.
    Nidal al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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