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as in shrew
a bad-tempered scolding woman tradition has it that Socrates' wife was such a fury that the philosopher's death sentence by the authorities was not an entirely unwelcome fate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun fury differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fury are anger, indignation, ire, rage, and wrath. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

When might anger be a better fit than fury?

The synonyms anger and fury are sometimes interchangeable, but anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

In what contexts can indignation take the place of fury?

The words indignation and fury are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

When is it sensible to use ire instead of fury?

The meanings of ire and fury largely overlap; however, ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

When would wrath be a good substitute for fury?

In some situations, the words wrath and fury are roughly equivalent. However, 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 fury While the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson in December incited a fresh wave of public fury about denials, there is almost no hope of meaningful change on the horizon, said Jay Pickern, an assistant professor of health services administration at Auburn University. Lauren Sausser, Miami Herald, 16 June 2025 As any outlet that covers Hollywood machinations knows, angry PR people working for top lieutenants call in a fury not only when their boss slips a rung on an executive power list but also when they are mentioned as a potential heir apparent. Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025 But their fury was too easily co-opted by the few who want to wantonly destroy and used the cover of protest to do so. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025 This is in spite of fury from supporters of both clubs, who have faced great uncertainty and pressure to secure tickets. Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fury
Noun
  • For the study, researchers looked at 1,376 vertebrate species known to eat some amount of carrion, ranging from tiger sharks and spotted hyenas to cane toads and common shrews.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
  • The music hall performer Belle Elmore was dismissed by the press as a vulgar shrew.
    Jennifer Wright, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The shot sent Fenway Park into a frenzy and left the Yankees ruminating over a few calls that didn’t go their way in the top of the frame.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025
  • But not all semiconductor companies have benefited from the AI frenzy.
    Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • And so when something went wrong or something went against his wishes, why, there would be a display of anger.
    Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
  • Brown was also instructed to attend an anger management program and undergo a psychological/psychiatric evaluation.
    Bob Harkins, New York Times, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • Vance Boelter, who faces several charges in the deadly shooting of a Minnesota Democrat lawmaker and her husband, targeted four different lawmakers during his rampage, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said during a press conference Monday.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
  • Scores of shocked people gathered near the scene of the crime to observe a minute of silence 24 hours after the rampage in the city of Graz, mourning the victims of one of the worst school shootings in the country’s history.
    Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 11 June 2025
Noun
  • Editors’ Picks 36 Hours in Rome Living the Slop Life Image Some online commentators have expressed indignation about the online content, saying that the banter about a Catholic leader is offensive.
    Emma Bubola, New York Times, 7 May 2025
  • As the film progresses, this wide-eyed curiosity shifts to righteous indignation, but these reactions are muddled by her feelings for Basem.
    Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Oakmont has hosted this tournament 10 times, and the glass-like greens and extremely thick rough can always turn head-scratchers into all-out fits of rage.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2025
  • Walked with volume, spoke with volume, in joy and in rage.
    Hanif Abdurraqib June 12, Literary Hub, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • Esper incurred Trump’s wrath for urging restraint in deploying the military against protesters.
    Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 13 June 2025
  • Most of the field wasn’t as pleased as Spaun as many of the tournament’s biggest names and the world’s best players felt Oakmont’s wrath early and often.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • In an environment where virality often outperforms veracity, the temptation rises: optimize for engagement, lean into outrage and co-opt the aesthetic of authenticity without accountability.
    ByLyric Mandell, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Months of arrests in Charlotte ICE has been making increasingly public arrests in Mecklenburg County over the last several months, stoking fear and outrage.
    Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

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