Definition of wrathnext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun wrath differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of wrath are anger, fury, indignation, ire, and rage. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge.

I feared her wrath if I was discovered

When can anger be used instead of wrath?

The words anger and wrath are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When would indignation be a good substitute for wrath?

The synonyms indignation and wrath are sometimes interchangeable, but indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

When might ire be a better fit than wrath?

Although the words ire and wrath have much in common, ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

How do rage and fury relate to one another, in the sense of wrath?

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

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

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 wrath The storm also caused flooding in other shore communities like Bay Head, where the storm's wrath exposed jetties in the ocean that could not be seen before. — Christine Sloan, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 Hawaii finds itself in the crosshairs again Hawaii has felt the wrath of two hurricanes over the past month. — John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 Some religious scholars in Saudi Arabia have preached against developing the area, claiming that its former inhabitants were struck down by the wrath of God. — Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 But within this storytelling paradigm, Adnani imbues each scene with a dramatic wrath bubbling just beneath the surface. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrath
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrath
Noun
  • Recently, anger at this collateral damage, heightened by the fish shortage, has evolved into a political movement.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts anger foster care advocates and lawmakers.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Hollywood Park sees that as punishment for challenging the billboard deal.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The team was fined $30 million and lost five consecutive draft picks from 2029 through 2033 as punishment.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Like its first season, season two of The Lowdown follows Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon, a freelance journalist and bookstore owner in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a nose for trouble and a hefty dose of quixotic, self-righteous moral indignation.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Along with his signature rapid-fire, garrulous dialogue, Sorkin’s tendency for self-righteous indignation is very much in evidence.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The company has suffered from several high-profile legal blows this year that have resulted in multibillion-dollar penalties.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Interest on the penalty would accrue during an appeal, but the number of violations Meta is charged with could be reduced.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The North has previously reacted with fury to high-profile defections by its citizens, sometimes accusing South Korea of kidnapping them.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Continue reading … BIBLICAL BACKLASH — 'The Chosen' star faces swift fury after launching faith coalition backing Talarico.
    — , FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The attack sparked outrage in Israel, with Netanyahu traveling to the attack site and vowing to respond forcefully.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The housing protests gathered pace last month, fueled by outrage over the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home of seven decades in downtown Madrid.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Platte County prosecutors have charged Brian David Martin with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action in what appears to be a road-rage incident that ended in a fatal crash.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The hackneyed ruminations on feminine style are punctured by an image of violent female rage.
    — Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In interiors, our Thames table gives a room a mood boost with its shiny finish; exactly what a single-material scheme needs.
    — Alex Eagle, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Forecasters describe the contest as exceptionally close, with limited independent polling, leaving uncertainty about whether the state’s political mood will produce a Democratic gain.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wrath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrath. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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