anger 1 of 2

anger

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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
And so, Shannon has built in this sort of like Hullabaloo dance that also is a way to express his anger and aggression. Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 May 2025 Ellie now recognizes this is the exact logic Joel used to keep her in the dark about the Fireflies’ fate, which only deepens her anger. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 May 2025
Verb
The closures have angered local business owners and caused congestion on detour routes that frequently paralyzes the streets of Wharton along with surrounding communities in Morris County. Jared Kofsky, ABC News, 17 May 2025 Image The cuts have also angered Democrats on Capitol Hill. Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for anger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anger
Noun
  • But there’s vulnerability buried in that sort of indignation.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
  • The feeling was one of indignation at the officiating and at UEFA, European football’s governing body.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 11 May 2025
Verb
  • More: The infuriating ambiguity of 'fine' Broadhurst has since graduated from Oxford and is now pursuing a masters in forensic speech science at the University of York.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • But the new textbooks have infuriated former government loyalists who defend their version of history.
    Simon Montlake, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • The abuses have sparked outrage and fear among South Sudanese nationals and marginalized groups in Khartoum, seen as having ties to RSF, who have recruited mercenaries from South Sudan.
    Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 16 May 2025
  • That move has sparked outrage as well as security and ethical concerns from both Republicans and Democrats. 2.
    Jade Walker, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Jason Kilar, who had just become head of what was then called Warner Media and was part of AT&T, was enraged enough at the messy debut that some executives soon would move on.
    David Bloom, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • The government doesn’t keep statistics regarding the number of white farmers killed, but news of particularly brutal attacks has enraged many Afrikaners.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Haliburton, the star Indiana Pacers point guard, appeared to have missed the attempt that would pierce their hearts, turn their stomachs into mush and transform their minds into a cauldron of rage.
    Sean Gregory, Time, 22 May 2025
  • Prosecutors say the 45-year-old Massachusetts woman struck O’Keefe with her car in a fit of drunken rage and left him to die outside the home of another Boston cop during a massive snowstorm in January 2022.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • But until Tuesday afternoon, four days out, there had been no announcement of what acts would be performing, or even where the show would be held The radio silence annoyed fans, who said so online.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025
  • Nearly one-half of Republicans (52%) are annoyed with how much attention is being paid to climate change vs. only 13% for Democrats.
    Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Future In Focus Shareholder fury: Max and Jake have been sniffing out what could happen to ITV, the UK broadcaster/producer whose future has been the subject of international gossip for quite some time now.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 May 2025
  • That fury gained public visibility after UnitedHealthcare's top executive, Brian Thompson, was shot and killed on a Manhattan street in December.
    Maria Aspan, NPR, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • No one wants to die in an America of wrath and vengeance.
    Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
  • Against this backdrop, Moscow may be tempted to scare Europe into submission, and some Europeans might choose appeasement rather than risk Russia’s wrath.
    Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Anger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anger. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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