anger 1 of 2

Definition of angernext

anger

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun anger differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of anger are fury, indignation, ire, rage, and wrath. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When could indignation be used to replace anger?

In some situations, the words indignation and anger are roughly equivalent. However, indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

In what contexts can ire take the place of anger?

The meanings of ire and anger largely overlap; however, 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 anger?

Both rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

Where would wrath be a reasonable alternative to anger?

While the synonyms wrath and anger are close in meaning, wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge.

I feared her wrath if I was discovered

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 anger
Noun
The defining moment of Hadi’s presidency came in 2014, when Houthi fighters swept south from their northern strongholds and captured Sanaa amid growing public anger over economic hardship and political instability. ABC News, 28 May 2026 Anger to acceptance Other customers, meanwhile, expressed a range of emotions on the spectrum of grief, from anger to depression to reluctant acceptance. Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Verb
The Star, which also looked into the killing, revealed that Jordan’s associations with organized crime figures, as well as his apparent disregard for angering them, likely contributed to his death. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026 Azmoun was dropped from coach Amir Ghalenoei’s squad in March, reportedly because of a social media post that angered Iranian authorities during the ongoing war with the United States and Israel. ABC News, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for anger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anger
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
Verb
  • Union Pacific hasn’t commented publicly on the president’s remarks, but risks infuriating the president by denying them privately to investors all the same.
    Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
  • Those exemptions — and the government stipends many seminary students receive up to the age of 26 — have infuriated many Israelis.
    Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 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
Verb
  • The back-and-forth with the hospital and the insurer enraged Wood.
    Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
  • One quick way to enrage a room of people leaders?
    Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 26 May 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
Verb
  • Ever been annoyed after Windows setup that your user folder has a weird name?
    Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 28 May 2026
  • The suspension is a nice blend between comfort and sport—the sweet spot where breaks in the asphalt don’t annoy, yet body roll never feels excessive.
    Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 27 May 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
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Anger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anger. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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