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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 Amid the debate and fury surrounding refereeing standards in La Liga, accusations of bias are commonplace. Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 The video circulated rapidly on social media, sparking fury as at least two White victims were pummeled into the ground by a group of Black suspects. FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Roberts brings a jolt of invigorating fury to one of the movie’s strongest scenes, in which the mentor rips into her mentee in public on a campus square with a fully detailed character assassination. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025 Lamm’s signing will highlight a fury of roster moves the Dolphins make on Wednesday, which also includes signing veteran kicker Riley Patterson to the team’s practice squad. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 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
  • Marvel fans went into a frenzy.
    Zack Sharf, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • An extension of the Black Hole, Raider Nation gathers at this spot and turns it into a football frenzy on Sundays, or whenever the Raiders suit up.
    Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But the anger and radicalization have to be managed by Democratic leaders, if not for the sake of the country, then at least to avoid a political backlash.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Burning anti-establishment anger helped lay the path for his successful 2018 presidential run, with dozens of far-right and conservative lawmakers elected on his coattails.
    Ricardo Brito, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara condemned the rampage and said the repeat offender endangered the public.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Prosecutors say Hopson got angry because someone was dancing with his girlfriend at the party, pulled out a knife, and went on a bloody rampage that ended with four victims hospitalized — two of whom died.
    Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • When big gatherings of police and federal agents suddenly show up in residential areas, crowds often meet them with cell phone cameras, righteous indignation and insults.
    Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Seven chapters in descending order structure the movie’s story as a countdown of hiccups, indignations, and even a hallucination, a day each in a pivotal week that will determine Teresa’s destiny.
    Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • At least 19 people died in protests in Nepal’s capital and other cities, after rage over a social-media shutdown and corruption led to violent clashes between the police and young demonstrators.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Genius dazzles down the ages, but so do fits of rage.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The New York Yankees are suddenly the hottest team in the American League, and the Chicago White Sox have become the latest team to feel their wrath.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Some people work out at the gym, while others start doomscrolling, meanwhile, those with competing priorities and tight deadlines often raise their voices at those who don't deserve your wrath.
    Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Trump was made aware of the incident on Sunday and expressed outrage in a speech on Monday.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Additionally, where is the outrage from the Mainstream Media on this horrible tragedy?
    Khaleda Rahman Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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