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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
The realization washed over Andrews in a rage. Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026 The Science of Remediation As the legal battle rages, scientists are racing to clean up the legacy of decades of PFAS use. Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
Verb
Those recruiting rankings were gasoline to an already raging fire. Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Forni described the history of these poles as the fight for American independence raged on. Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rage
Noun
  • The 23-year-old Beckham seemed to take the media frenzy in good humor.
    Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
  • Though not everyone was able to secure presale tickets, many still made light of the situation online, sparking a wave of memes related to the frenzy.
    Francie Ebert, NBC news, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Death is often a flash point for communal anger.
    Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 May 2026
  • Lemieux was known for diving on the ice, embellishments that drew the anger of opponents, Farber said, and often his own teammates.
    Dan Robson, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • That kicked off the weight-loss-medication craze.
    Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
  • The series also taps into the current craze of new-adult stories — that is, focused on characters in that stage of life between teen and full-fledged adulthood — many specifically set in the pressure-cooker environment that college and university settings naturally supply to make romance spark.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026
Noun
  • All of this creates new pathways between the brain’s neurons, improving cerebral neuroplasticity and preventing neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.
    Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 29 May 2026
  • She is left to care for her partner’s elderly mom who battles Parkinson’s and dementia.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • According to authorities, a group of individuals attempted to storm a police station in the French capital late Saturday.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
  • But the Thunder stormed back to briefly take the lead just before halftime behind reigning two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander’s 13 points in the second quarter.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • The menu reads like a love letter to the nearby ocean, with a raw bar serving oysters and littleneck clams by the half-dozen and steaming bowls of clam chowder.
    Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026
  • Dale thought of the donuts and wondered if steaming them in their combination oven would consistently bake them all the way through.
    Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • The scene recalled the gruesome rampages of the RSF’s forebears, the janjaweed militias who terrorized Sudan’s Darfur region a generation ago.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
  • There were 12 separate shootings during the rampage, which police say appeared random, including at a fire station.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • My earliest World Cup memory—a six-year-old’s spiral of indignation and despair—is of Diego Maradona’s dastardly Hand of God, which eliminated England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 edition, in Mexico.
    Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
  • Ultimately, grudges are rarely just bitter indignation alone.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rage. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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