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 Donica, across from her, is on sturdier ground, fearsome to the point of awe-inspiring in the sustained fury of his fermatas, though his considerable force as a performer longs to be shaped more cleanly. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026 Ministers remain haunted by events in September 2000 when former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government, with a majority as large as Starmer’s now, was rocked as farmers and hauliers blockaded refineries and fuel depots amid fury over taxes levied on petrol and diesel. Ian King, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2026 Scott Olson / Getty Images The White House launched the TrumpRx site in an attempt to address Americans’ fury about rising drug prices. Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026 The justifiable fury over that incident was probably one of the reasons One Battle won in the first place. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 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
  • Here are six ways fans can join the local World Cup frenzy in the coming weeks, including one exhibit that’s already open.
    Dan Kelly March 29, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2026
  • The same frenzy has taken hold online.
    Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • National media stories appear almost daily about taxpayers’ anger over ever increasing levies on their homes.
    Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Iannarelli discussed how threatening individuals often escalate their anger verbally.
    Evonne Andris, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Officers rushed to the scene in a popular shopping center after receiving an emergency call reporting a rampage by a knife-wielding man.
    ABC News, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Three men ages 30, 43 and 69, along with three women ages 30, 49 and 79 suffered minor injuries in the rampage, police said.
    Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Those calls have been met with eye-rolling and righteous indignation.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
  • But this indignation ignores what Chalamet was actually saying.
    Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • That rage drove her away from King’s politics of nonviolence and toward a more militant ideology.
    Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Curled, effortless updos have been all the rage lately, from Kerry Washington and LaTanya Richardson Jackson to Olandria Carthen.
    Essence, Essence, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Due to these restrictions, House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) outlined some provisions to skirt the Senate parliamentarian’s wrath.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Joe Biden’s efforts to be the most pro-labor president in history didn’t spare him the wrath of young Starbucks employees who accused him of complicity in genocide.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Yet session after session, the result has been the same — agencies receive their annual appropriations, public outrage over long security lines and flight delays fades, legislation languishes and workers have no guarantees their paychecks won't stop coming again.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • No amount of outrageousness can mask the outrage.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 30 Mar. 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