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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 Overcome with fury, the King announces his plan to slaughter anyone who was complicit, including his own grandmother. Kayti Burt, Time, 29 Sep. 2025 The recent decision to assault Gaza City, where a number of the 20 living hostages are believed to be held, only added to the fury on display on Sunday. Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025 Taylor owns the first third of the film with a righteous fury that only betrays an inner vulnerability at the most crucial moments. Joe Reid, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025 Isabel Campoy also fell victim to the fury assailant. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fury
Noun
  • The shrew is one of these mammals, according to the study.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The elephant shrew genus Macroscelides was the sole exception, shifting to omnivory after adopting myrmecophagy during the Eocene.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In the frenzy, per Science Daily, bones were put on view at the farm, and other artifacts later wre brought on tours with the Ringling Brothers show.
    Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The Spotted Cow cult following — which paved the way for the brewery’s equally passionate Moon Man IPA frenzy — provides New Glarus with visits from locals and beer fans alike.
    Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For Yankees fans, there will be anger.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Through sharp wit and deep introspection, Wood reveals the wisdom he’s gathered—from knowing when to hold your tongue to learning how to channel anger into purpose.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Speck was a mass murderer who went on a rampage and killed eight nursing students in 1966.
    Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Nineteen children and two teachers were killed in the May 2022 rampage at Robb Elementary School.
    Josh Margolin, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • McBride sets the political context for Swift’s savage indignation by noting that 1727–1729 saw three successive harvest failures in Ireland.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Passions run as high as style, and candor and fervor blend with humor, to endow anecdotes and reflections with pride and purpose along with mourning and indignation.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And in the 1980s, a downtown-NYC-all-the-rage feminist painter exploits her female studio assistants.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Flip-flops have proven to be all the rage lately, from the pool to the street to the runway.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • When Hernán helps Julia and her young daughter, Maribel, navigate treacherous borderlands, their desperate journey triggers the wrath of a ruthless trafficking syndicate.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Tech CEOs lobbying Trump similarly risk the wrath of true believers in the administration who, quite simply, hate them.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That Barcelona, who reached a fifth successive Champions League final last season, reduced their squad number because of a need to save money sparked outrage.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The hamster wheel chain competition popped up on day 60 of Big Brother season 27 as part of the White Locust twist and once again made for undeniably riveting television, but this time, the fan reaction was something else — outrage.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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