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ire

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun ire differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ire are anger, fury, indignation, rage, and wrath. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

In what contexts can anger take the place of ire?

While the synonyms anger and ire are close in meaning, anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When is it sensible to use indignation instead of ire?

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

a comment that caused general indignation

How are the words rage and fury related as synonyms of ire?

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 ire?

While in some cases nearly identical to ire, 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 ire
Noun
His ire towards Katia Itzel García wasn’t a good look, not least because one of her decisions correctly spotted a Jonathan David slip. Phil Hay, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025 Pam's ire seemed to stem from not being a person in her own right. Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025 Paul Weiss drew Trump’s ire not for anything sports related but largely because of former law firm partner—and former federal prosecutor—Mark Pomerantz. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Mar. 2025 The switch-up earned him the praise of President Donald Trump but the ire of prominent Democrats. Averi Harper, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ire
Noun
  • Newcastle United fans will be used to the fact that they aren’t allowed to enjoy these occasions before sports journalists’ chin-stroking moral indignation takes hold.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The Baldwins shame him, but their righteous indignation feels insincere considering Baldwin wasn’t using her name in that footage with detectives.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Other nations, angered by the new American tariffs, will impose their own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, reducing the sales of America’s most internationally competitive companies.
    Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2025
  • As the situation unfolds, Republicans are caught in a delicate balancing act, wary of angering Trump while addressing the growing backlash against his trade policies.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The film’s first trailer release sparks new backlash, this time around its stars’ political leanings Instead of enthusiasm and anticipation for the movie, Disney’s first official Snow White trailer drop incurred the wrath of fans on either side of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
    Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The cause of Montgomery's wrath, and of his March 30 date, is the Federal Communications Commission, which set an April 1, 2025, deadline for smaller jails to lower the obscene rates of inmate phone calls.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Crook told police the woman driving the Tesla had bumped his truck when opening her car door, infuriating him.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025
  • And Democrats bet that Mr. Musk would infuriate their voters more than Mr. Trump’s endorsement would benefit Judge Schimel.
    Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The outrage felt by Connecticut residents, amid a brutally hot last summer, grew late last year to a point that a petition was delivered to Gov. Ned Lamont with 68,000 signatures calling for a break on rising electric bills.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The documentary sparked outrage among fans even before its release.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The university caved to Trump's demands, enraging students and graduates alike.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The Democratic base is enraged, but the party remains staunchly divided on how to respond two months into his second term.
    Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Even with boycotts planned through the summer, Shelley Kohan, a Forbes retail contributor, writes that the biggest question is how can consumers voice their fury without tanking the economy.
    DeArbea Walker, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • In Katie’s case, being the object of Jamie’s fury cost her her life.
    Judy Berman, TIME, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Male rage, particularly on display in parts of the manosphere, has been steadily rising.
    Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Also, the trade war rages, and there were mass firings at key scientific agencies.
    Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ire. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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