wrath

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 Her character joined several others who faced the wrath of Homelander and other villains. Staff Author, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 The wrath of the government shortly followed. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026 Or risk the wrath of being on the wrong side. Dallas Morning News, 7 Apr. 2026 The immediate object of Uthmeier’s wrath is the Rooney Rule, voluntarily adopted more than two decades ago by the NFL to ensure that minority candidates are interviewed for coaching positions. Howard L. Simon, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrath
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrath
Noun
  • The family’s anger has subsided some since the baby’s death, in part because of their trust in God’s plan.
    Duaa Eldeib, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
  • The Nuggets need more athleticism, more length, more anger, more hunger.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Jurors in a Fort Worth courtroom decided on Tanner Horner’s punishment after hearing about a month of testimony and evidence that included audio of Athena Strand’s last moments from inside the delivery van.
    Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • Smart also confirmed that Georgia’s NIL collective had begun issuing fines to players as punishment.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • Where is the indignation about this from politicians, community leaders and clergy?
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
  • Rhys, long an expert at instilling indignation with soulful sentiment, gets pushed further here.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • After Minnesota killed the first penalty of the game — an accomplishment of note with the way the Wild penalty kill was torched in the first two games — Kaprizov opened the scoring with the teams skating 4-on-4, completing a speedy rush to the net after a set-up pass from Faber.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 10 May 2026
  • Devon Toews was called for a hooking penalty, giving Minnesota 63 seconds of 4-on-3 power-play time.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • The fury comes just weeks after Prosecutor Melesa Johnson struck plea deals with Terry Young and Dominic Miller, two of three men charged with murder following the high-profile shooting that killed one person, Liza Lopez-Galvan, and injured more than 20 others.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
  • Commercial writers banded together in equal fury, putting out a rebuttal that same year titled, naturally, This Is Chick-Lit.
    Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • And after a number of the governor’s Jewish supporters expressed outrage over his antisemitic remarks.
    Scott Maxwell, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2026
  • The House galleries erupted in screams, chants, sirens, and outrage as the vote was taken.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • But ahead of that, the charismatic actor sat down with Vogue to discuss career coincidences, onscreen rage, and growing up in Harlem.
    Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 8 May 2026
  • Analog operation With retro all the rage, analog alarm clocks have gone from antique to chic.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Having to fight and co-exist with those hell-bent on spewing lies and attention-grabbing hyperbole only clouds up the room, ruins the mood and takes away minutes from those who have been tackling real problems that truly need their government’s help.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
  • Week by week, the mood in the narrow classroom was increasingly glum, the students trading whispered remarks when Darcy spoke.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wrath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrath. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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