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 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 The conditions were such that one bus reportedly had to pull into a parking lot to wait out the storm’s fury. Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 22 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
  • There seemed to be an unwarranted frenzy in the speed at which everything was played, as if music were as much a sport as an artistic pursuit.
    Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The Irishman recorded a hole-in-one on the sixth hole at Augusta National on Saturday, putting patrons into a frenzy.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Eighteen years later, Martha-Ann Alito would be recorded expressing her still-raw anger over a Washington Post column that critiqued her wardrobe.
    Peter S. Canellos, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Every game is played away from home, the atmosphere always feels hostile and the wild-west of social media means the anger and loathing persist long after a match has ended.
    Graham Scott, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • His shot missed, deflecting glass onto Long Khac Nguyen’s face and setting him off on an immediate rampage, shooting several hostages, three fatally.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Auriemma, at age 41 and in his 10th season at UConn, led a team headlined by All-Americans Rebecca Lobo, Jennifer Rizzotti and Kara Wolters on a 35-0 rampage to secure the first undefeated season and national championship in UConn history.
    Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • To his astonishment — and culinary indignation — the screen returned an absolute void.
    Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But what do designers think about the resurgence of the heavily curtained look, which was all the rage in the 1980s?
    Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Uthmeier has also gone out of his way to weaken criminal cases that don’t dovetail with his philosophy, including an Orlando road-rage case where a man was shot to death.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • But in removing Zhang, Xi is sending a signal that no one is safe from his wrath.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • As of Saturday afternoon, Swalwell ignored calls to drop out of the race and resign from Congress, even as outrage and criticism swelled.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
  • When outliers such as Jeff Sessions and Chris Christie straggled into his camp, their betrayal provoked mockery and outrage.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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