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
  • As the players linked arms as one by one — five of them were brave enough to take on the enormous pressure of these penalties — in the shadows was the 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in their only other Champions League final twenty years ago.
    Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 31 May 2026
  • Regulators are responding by increasing application costs and considering penalties for projects that reserve capacity without moving forward.
    Anna Broughel, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • Regardless, there’s a clear symbolism to Clark empathizing and embracing a bloated externalization of his own inchoate fury until someone with an outside perspective disturbs his peace, and that fury breaks loose and devours him.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 29 May 2026
  • Sarcastic fury on his past albums used to be paired with a sense of playful discovery, like the new wave synths mixed with punishing bass on All My Heroes Are Cornballs or the SP-404-shredding beats that powered his Danny Brown collaboration Scaring The Hoes.
    Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • The close proximity of the plant to homes and schools led to widespread outrage and now dozens of lawsuits after residents were displaced for days.
    Jason Henry, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
  • Williams’ ruling could reignite a case that has roiled Washington, where the deal arranged between the president, Internal Revenue Service and Department of Justice has been met with bipartisan outrage and questions about how the president could sue and settle with his own administration.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • And flatter structures are all the rage right now.
    Claire Zillman, Fortune, 30 May 2026
  • The laughter stops immediately, and a familiar look of bubbling rage returns to Ruben’s eyes.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 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 6 Jun. 2026.

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