Definition of furynext
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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 story quickly sparked fury among Threads users, with many siding with the original poster and criticizing the seat swap request. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 The March 17 ruling triggered fury across the continent and renewed longstanding questions about the organization’s governance. Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026 But while both Horvath and Heilman backed the compromise struck with Bass, many residents and public transit advocates expressed fury at the amendment. National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Intense fury over Jackson County property assessments. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 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
  • The novel delivers all the frenzy of a gold rush with rhythmic, hypnotic prose.
    Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Look at the frenzy of activity on Thursday night.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But fights are just as integral to the Netflix show created by Lee Sung Jin, and the series’ sound team needed to do even more meticulous work building visceral senses of anger, stress, and dread that slowly swallow up the characters and steer them into making a compounding set of poor decisions.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
  • As Columbia, Rodriguez takes big, bold swings, shifting from manic exuberance to bruised vulnerability to feral anger over the course of the night.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors say the gunman, disguised as a police officer, began his rampage by shooting Hoffman and his wife, then stopped at the residences of two other lawmakers who weren't home.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • But the Gunslinger’s murderous rampage is a symptom of a larger problem.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Both are completely honest without fear of escalation or indignation.
    Mark Travers, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Surely there was something more beneath all this mild pleasantness, some edge of resentment, a few shards of indignation on the brink of cutting through.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Before his trial, Hitchcock pulled back his confession and said his brother, Richard Hitchcock — Cindy’s stepfather — killed the girl in a fit of rage after discovering James Hitchcock and the girl willingly in bed together.
    Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Over 150 wildfires rage across Georgia and Florida as scientists point to drought, gusty winds, and dead trees from Hurricane Helene as key factors amplifying fire threat.
    Emilie Megnien, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 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 government of Armenia is trying to warm its formerly tense relationship with Israel in an effort to overhaul its foreign policy, but its overtures are being met with outrage from the public.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
  • But Bastian’s remarks about what happens next quickly sparked outrage across social media.
    Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

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