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rage

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun rage differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rage are anger, fury, indignation, ire, 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

Where would anger be a reasonable alternative to rage?

The words anger and rage can be used in similar contexts, but anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When can indignation be used instead of rage?

While in some cases nearly identical to rage, indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

In what contexts can ire take the place of rage?

While the synonyms ire and rage are close in meaning, ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

When is it sensible to use wrath instead of rage?

The synonyms wrath and rage are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 rage
Noun
Sorensen allegedly admitted to sideswiping 20-year-old Jonathan Langdon's motorcycle while in a jealous rage, according to court records. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 Its toys have since defined the childhood of millions of kids; millennials might remember growing up with Etch A Sketch and ICEE makers; and for Gen Zers, Spin Master toys like Mighty Beanz and Kinetic Sand were all the rage. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images In late July, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang posted on X for the first time to defend open-source models in artificial intelligence, inserting himself into a debate that was raging across the industry. Kif Leswing, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026 These conflagrations follow the historic fires that raged in France and Spain last month, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents. Bloomberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rage
Noun
  • The effort thrust Kansas City into a nationwide mid-decade redistricting frenzy amid a bitter fight for seats in Congress.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Bank of America pledge isn’t limited to the AI frenzy, focusing on sectors such as transportation and water systems as well.
    Bloomberg, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Many of his supporters harbor deep frustration and anger at the American for-profit healthcare system.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Schore makes a similar distinction when discussing workplace anger.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That’s why putting a lemon wedge in the glass became a craze.
    Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Kardashian and her team started working on the brand before consumers’ protein craze really kicked off, and were ready to launch in spring 2025.
    Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Yet when a parent develops dementia, can no longer live independently or suddenly needs care, millions of families are forced to navigate one of life’s most complex transitions largely on their own.
    Samir Shah, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Lewy body dementia can progressively affect thinking, memory and behavior, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
    Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Residents of a Newark, New Jersey, apartment complex got a startling wakeup call Sunday morning when police in tactical gear, responding to reports of multiple people shot, stormed their building.
    Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Eventually, Daemon uses Caraxes to burn down the entrance so that the Blacks can storm the town in search of Ormund and his Rhaenyra’s latest rival, Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth).
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The series left Netflix at the end of June (A Year in the Life remains available there) and currently steams on Hulu and Prime Video.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Sometimes holding a dispenser over a steaming hot beverage can cause condensation to form around the pouring spout.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The rampage caused more property damage, additional crashes between other vehicles and ultimately injuries to three people who were treated at a hospital.
    Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Taylor is now scheduled to stand trial later this year; he was accused of attacking three victims in a racially motivated rampage in downtown Santa Monica in 2023.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Mind you, Miss Manners agrees with your indignation at this fraudulent maneuver.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
  • And Anne Hathaway, in a bravura performance, situates Penelope on an emotional precipice, caught between indecision and indignation, between yearning for her husband and a palpable disgust with the alternatives.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rage. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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