wrath

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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 Paul’s father is the righteous wrath of society, looking down on his son’s fecklessness with the zealotry of an irascible Fox News addict who doesn’t see any value at all in arts funding. Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought to tread a thin line between placating Polish sensitivities and avoiding the wrath of nationalist Ukrainians. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025 So why has the New Haven Ivy—considered a bastion of liberalism for the past decade—felt none of his wrath? Clara Molot, Air Mail, 23 Aug. 2025 Incurring the wrath of the fairy folk for spilling milk, that’s what. Lincee Ray Published, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wrath
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrath
Noun
  • But the anger and radicalization have to be managed by Democratic leaders, if not for the sake of the country, then at least to avoid a political backlash.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Burning anti-establishment anger helped lay the path for his successful 2018 presidential run, with dozens of far-right and conservative lawmakers elected on his coattails.
    Ricardo Brito, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • By embedding halfway houses into the federal transition process, Bush underscored his belief that effective reentry programs could reduce recidivism and strengthen families, turning correctional policy toward rehabilitation as much as punishment.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • On Friday, Major League Baseball downgraded Chapman’s punishment to an undisclosed find, which was also part of the original punishment.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And rather than indignation or rage or fury, what comes through in the letters is his sheer amazement at being in this predicament.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
  • But reacting with indignation has not been an option for Lee.
    Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Prosecutors charged him with threatening a federal official and making threats to injure — felonies carrying maximum penalties of 10 and 20 years.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The referee threw a flag on the play, calling a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Tart.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Fenerbahce reserve their primary fury for Galatasaray, but the feeling is pretty mutual.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • South Korea’s top diplomat then rushed to Washington to negotiate their release, while public fury swelled back home over what many see as a slap in the face from their longtime ally.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The racially motivated attack, carried out by members of the Ku Klux Klan, intensified national outrage and was a catalyst for major civil rights advancements.
    Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The company also cut coverage in many vulnerable parts of the state, sparking outrage when homeowners who had just faced a nonrenewal were then hit by the January wildfires around Los Angeles County.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Like an amulet, or a bible, the immense and somehow lingering grief and rage flowing through it is with me everywhere.
    Sara Stridsberg September 15, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The young man’s beauty, musical talents, and athletic prowess, however, belie volatile currents of desire and rage, which will eventually scandalize the community and unsettle Priscilla and Diamond’s faiths.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Perfectly roomy with a bit of effortless slouch for a relaxed feel, the Balance Bucket is available in both black and brown suede, plus black leather, to complement every mood and lifestyle.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Wrought-iron bed frames and de-silvered mirrors play into the mood of a seaside inn.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wrath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrath. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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