Definition of furynext
1
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

Relevance
2
3

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 exterior, led by João — whose main issue is figuring out how to end things with Ellie without sending her into a blind fury — is perfectly in sync. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026 Then the music crashes in behind her with a matching fury and fire. Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026 Camilla’s been getting the brunt of Sarah’s fury. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Apr. 2026 Time and again, the Venezuelan opposition has converted popular fury into political momentum, only to watch Chavismo regroup, survive, and consolidate. Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fury
Noun
  • See page 8 to order a shrew for $29, plus shipping and handling.
    Jeff Wilson, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Because for the most part, Caroline comes off as a rigid uptight shrew.
    Lisa DePaulo, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The flight cuts come after the Federal Aviation Administration brought the hammer down on the flying frenzy at Chicago’s largest airport last month.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • The musical, brimming over with Broadway in-jokes and phallic humor, doesn’t build so much as whip itself into a frenzy.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • In response to that outpouring of anger, the government said Starmer acknowledged fear within the community.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 1 May 2026
  • The anger is understandable, but it’s pointed in the wrong direction.
    Robert Johnson, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The above breaks trends that began with Norris’ upset 2024 Miami Grand Prix win that broke the Invincible Verstappen rampage.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Chat logs obtained by the Florida Phoenix show 20-year-old Florida State University (FSU) student Phoenix Ikner, who killed two adults and wounded seven people during an April 2025 rampage on FSU’s campus, obsessively communicated with ChatGPT during the leadup to the shooting.
    Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Rhys, long an expert at instilling indignation with soulful sentiment, gets pushed further here.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Racing’s indignation over that, as well as that of anger in the general public, prompted the formation by Congress of a bill that would ban the slaughter of horses in the United States.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • For one thing, when extremely evil people never seem to get their righteous and fiery comeuppance, my rage can curdle a bit.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
  • Hathaway’s Catwoman is one of her best takes on feminine rage, juggling a sense of righteousness and nihilism that might clang unconvincingly in the hands of a different performer.
    Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Or risk the wrath of being on the wrong side.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The immediate object of Uthmeier’s wrath is the Rooney Rule, voluntarily adopted more than two decades ago by the NFL to ensure that minority candidates are interviewed for coaching positions.
    Howard L. Simon, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The incident sparked outrage and was condemned by Israel’s leaders and military.
    Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026
  • But after parent outrage surrounding safety and environmental concerns, the district changed its tune.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on fury

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster