Synonyms of wrath

wrath

noun

ˈrath 

1

as in anger

an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something

waited until my initial wrath had eased before voicing my complaint

Synonyms & Similar Words

• anger
• indignation
• fury
• outrage
• rage
• wrathfulness
• mood
• irritation
• ire
• madness
• exasperation
• contempt
• jealousy
• irritability
• resentment
• bitterness
• hostility
• annoyance
• mad
• slow burn
• spleen
• furor
• choler
• angriness
• grudge
• temper
• malice
• lividity
• enmity
• irateness
• animosity
• birse
• venom
• envy
• outburst
• lividness
• antagonism
• spite
• aggravation
• vexation
• rancor
• antipathy
• embitterment
• bile
• vindictiveness
• malevolence
• vengefulness
• vitriol
• acrimony
• jaundice
• biliousness
• heat
• virulence
• pique
• belligerence
• pugnacity
• crankiness
• irascibility
• contentiousness
• warmth
• quarrelsomeness
• dudgeon
• pet
• contrariness
• acrimoniousness
• flare
• querulousness
• huff
• road rage
• delirium
• hot-headedness
• blowup
• pugnaciousness
• rise
• orneriness
• disputatiousness
• empoisonment
• dander
• passion
• irascibleness
• chafe
• air rage
• ruffle
• flare-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasure
• delight
• patience
• forbearance
• calmness

2

as in punishment

suffering, loss, or hardship imposed in response to a crime or offense

the evangelist warned the gathering that unrepentant sinners would suffer the wrath of God

Synonyms & Similar Words

• punishment
• penalty
• chastisement
• comeuppance
• castigation
• condemnation
• nemesis
• sentence
• discipline
• retribution
• correction
• vengeance
• retaliation
• revenge
• reprisal
• desert(s)
• criticism
• reprimand
• damnation
• example
• fine
• imprisonment
• assessment
• rebuke
• censure
• confinement
• incarceration
• denouncement
• charge
• reproof
• mulct

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pardon
• indemnity
• vindication
• parole
• acquittal
• amnesty
• exemption
• immunity
• impunity
• exoneration
• release
• exculpation
• forgiveness
• commutation
• remission
• reprieve
• disregard
• absolution
• condonation
• remitment
• overlooking

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

Recent Examples of wrath

The Dolphins would drive down the field to the Niners’ red zone before committing a penalty—or face the wrath of San Francisco’s vaunted front seven. — Miami Herald, 20 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

Despite Erasmus’s wrath, the Renaissance cut-and-pasters were on a roll—for a while. — Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026