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 The party also drew an appearance by Roger Ailes, the Fox News Channel chief who had faced Foxman’s wrath over the conspiracy musings of one-time Fox personality Beck. Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026 Although their relationship begins as a love story, the book brings home the profits of Jacob’s earlier brutality—fate catches up to him, and everything that is love and passion sort of spoils into wrath and obsession. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 May 2026 Funny, eccentric and eager to tell a story, Sterling’s individuality sometimes drew the wrath of critics and listeners. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026 Her character joined several others who faced the wrath of Homelander and other villains. Staff Author, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrath
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrath
Noun
  • Death is often a flash point for communal anger.
    Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 May 2026
  • Lemieux was known for diving on the ice, embellishments that drew the anger of opponents, Farber said, and often his own teammates.
    Dan Robson, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • There are other interesting twists to the original story that highlight different parts of the themes of crime, punishment, family and responsibility.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 June 2026
  • Therefore, a second execution would not violate the prohibition on double jeopardy or on the imposition of cruel punishment.
    Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 4 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
  • Carolina killed off a delay-of-game penalty, which was crucial for staying in the game.
    Matt Reigle, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
  • The payments, tied to penalty clauses, demonstrate that even halting parts of the project will be expensive nearly a decade after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled the development.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 7 June 2026
Noun
  • Fluent in Persian, French, English, Swedish, German, and Italian, Satrapi was a singular figure in the culture of two continents — an Iranian exile and a French artist, a cartoonist who made history at the Oscars, and a political activist who turned grief and fury and memory into enduring art.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
  • The killing of 14-year-old Agostina Vega, found dismembered after a week missing, has reignited national fury ahead Ni Una Menos protests, echoing the 2015 teen murder that birthed Argentina’s movement.
    Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • Enough with the selective outrage.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
  • Thousands have taken to the streets in the country's capital every night since the incident and activists have told CBS News that a lack of transparency from the Albanian government — both over this project and wider issues related to alleged corruption — are central to the public outrage.
    Emmet Lyons, CBS News, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • Director Max Winkler worked closely with the two actors to create a rapport that could inform their face-offs, which operate on rage and fear.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 6 June 2026
  • This has brought some understandable pre-tournament rage.
    Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • Expect smart, mood-setting lighting within easy reach of the bed, neon accents that frame the W’s famously comfortable bed, a tech-forward setup that feels intuitive, and lightning-fast Wi-Fi.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Its design mirrors the user’s mood to keep the conversation flowing.
    Hansa Bhargava, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wrath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrath. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

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