ire 1 of 2

ire

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun ire differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ire are anger, fury, indignation, rage, and wrath. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

In what contexts can anger take the place of ire?

While the synonyms anger and ire are close in meaning, anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When is it sensible to use indignation instead of ire?

In some situations, the words indignation and ire are roughly equivalent. However, indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

How are the words rage and fury related as synonyms of ire?

Both rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

Where would wrath be a reasonable alternative to ire?

While in some cases nearly identical to ire, 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 ire
Noun
The ejection grew the ire of Copper. Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025 Head coach Kevin Stefanski would not commit to Sanders being the backup, and Bailey Zappe was elevated to the practice squad, which drew the ire of ESPN analyst Ryan Clark. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
Yamanaka’s writing had met with acclaim and ire from the start. Literary Hub, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ire
Noun
  • She was particularly distressed by Kennedy’s June decision to fire the entire vaccine advisory board and stack it with his allies, but recent months have offered even more opportunities for stress and indignation.
    Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • While one of her first moves — pushing specialized teachers into vacant classroom teaching jobs — angered the teachers' union, the new bonus for retirees was an idea that came from the union president, Ingrid Walker-Henry.
    Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • This move had angered India, which pointed to China not getting punished despite its role as an even bigger importer of Russian energy.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • After a soggy weekend, Arizona is finally getting some relief from Priscilla’s wrath.
    Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 13 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • After Kibaki’s victory was declared, the president was inaugurated in a strange dusk ceremony that infuriated Odinga’s camp.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The attack infuriated Italy and Italians, who were upset that the United States didn't hold accountable those involved in the mob.
    Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The footage sparked outrage and dismay across Israel.
    Itay Stern, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Swart also blamed major social-media platforms for monetizing outrage and accelerating polarization.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Michael was similarly enraged by the support.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The funniest part to me is that amid this violence — as someone is literally trying to kill him — the thing that enrages Beom-mo the most is when his wife’s top starts to slip down.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Federal police in face masks and tactical gear have employed aggressive tactics in an effort to safely carry out arrests of criminals, prompting fury from community members and leading to blowback.
    Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Hell hath no fury like… an ex scorned?
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Carti’s idiosyncratic style helped birth a generation of rage rap artists, and his latest studio album, which spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200, could finally convince Grammy voters to give him his due.
    Kyle Denis, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2025
  • In Los Angeles, my hometown, protests rage as ICE raids intensify — yet we’re still questioned for existing between survival and success.
    Sofía Pereda, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ire. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!