wrath

Definition of wrathnext
1
2

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 Backup Spurs center Luke Kornet’s minutes have offered an opening this series — mostly a break from Wembanyama’s wrath. Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 29 May 2026 There are the victims, their families, and lives left shattered because of a single person’s vicious wrath. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026 Barely a decade after Hatch faced widespread wrath for his relatively tame antics, Hantz was celebrated. Shaan Merchant, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026 One of the most significant was the hurdle of engineering the enclave to harmonize with nature to resist the wrath of disasters, says Syd Kitson, founder and visionary behind Babcock Ranch. Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrath
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrath
Noun
  • The moment [Democrats] are in is for righteous anger, so that to me is the X factor here in terms of her ability to tap into that.
    Anne Bryson, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2025
  • European leaders voiced anger over a new US strategy document that characterized the continent, a longtime American ally, as akin to a threat.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 9 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • The range of punishment for both offenses is two to 20 years in prison.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2026
  • In many organizations, formal openness coexists with informal punishment.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 11 June 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
Noun
  • Spain crashed out of the tournament in the round of 16, beaten on penalties by the hosts, Russia.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
  • The teams combined to hit the crossbar three times before the Manchester United winger — who entered as a substitute in the 56th minute — broke through with a left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area that beat diving goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez.
    CBS News, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Before the agreement was announced, Israeli forces struck in Beirut, enraging Trump, who has publicly expressed his fury with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
  • When the 62-year-old owner of one of Orlando’s signature venues was picked up by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in early May, waves of grief, shock and fury spread through the music scene and spilled onto front pages and social -media accounts.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • IndiGo’s stock tumbled and its CEO issued a public apology Friday, as viral videos captured scenes of chaos and passengers’ outrage at airports.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025
  • The hospital confirmed the change after the clip sparked nationwide outrage.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Broadcom shares hit an all-time high during Monday's trading session after the emergence of another encouraging sign that the company's custom chips are all the rage on the AI scene.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 8 Dec. 2025
  • Consider how collateralized mortgage bonds bundled with other debt was all the rage 20 years ago — with disastrous results.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Fans of both teams showed up in a good mood and the weather, which looked threatening before kickoff, held up.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
  • The mood among players in the mixed zone was telling.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wrath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrath. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on wrath

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster