rage 1 of 2

Definition of ragenext
1
2
3
4

rage

2 of 2

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
Reports show that even children will go outside to accumulate the fallen snow in order to form balls that are ultimately used as projectiles to pummel each other in a fit of collective rage. Wayne Chan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 While ankle-hugging skinnies aren't all the rage just yet, slimmer shapes are easier than ever to find. Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
Some of Southwest’s A-listers openly raged on platforms such as X, with many complaints focused on those passengers being forced to place carry-on bags in compartments way to the back of the plane, a different experience from the prior boarding regime. Dallas Morning News, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026 But all that is left now is the concrete slab that once served as the floor of his popular wedding venue, and the once-regal nearby 40-foot cypress trees are now bent over after raging floodwaters destroyed everything in their path. Abrielle Kate Maddison, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rage
Noun
  • In these and recent Olympics, athletes have gone viral for amassing pins in the village with varying frenzy.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Given Supermicro’s high-profile role in the AI build-out frenzy, the CFO also needs to have strategic relationships with analysts, investment banks, and market participants.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But a reoccurring point of friction and, really, anger on my part is over the dishwashing and laundry at our house.
    R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Zelensky was forced to make a U-turn and acknowledge public anger.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • And while TikTok has fueled the vibration plate boom, Richardson urges a measured approach to the gadget craze.
    Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 20 Feb. 2026
  • This dainty top combines the polka dot craze with the sheer obsession.
    Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • New research suggests that several cups of caffeinated coffee or tea may reduce dementia risk.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Participants in speed training were less likely to be diagnosed with dementia.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Geneva led 43-34 at halftime, but Burlington Central stormed back to force a 49-49 tie on Wilson’s floater in the lane late in the third quarter.
    Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
  • After straddling a gate in Run 2 of the slalom in Bormio, an emotional Atle Lie McGrath of Norway chucked his ski poles and laid down in the snow after storming off the Stelvio course.
    Isabel Yip, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • When in doubt, sauté or steam the vegetables before adding them to the muffin tin.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2026
  • It can also be used to wrap sandwiches or other items before heating to keep them secure, or for steaming proteins and vegetables, helping retain their moisture and nutrients.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Scientists have long suspected that active supermassive black holes can kill their own host galaxies, but new research suggests these cosmic titans are more like serial killers that can extend their murderous rampage across many light-years and destroy neighboring galaxies, too.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Randy Santos, 31, was arrested with a bloody metal bar in his hands shortly after the October 2019 rampage.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The Editorial Board should save its righteous indignation for some other topic.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Many of the musicians and audience members belonged to a generation that’s often stereotyped as languishing in apathy and isolation—but whose indignation about the suffering in Gaza has far outpaced that of other generations.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rage. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on rage

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!