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rage

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun rage differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rage are anger, fury, indignation, ire, 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

Where would anger be a reasonable alternative to rage?

The words anger and rage can be used in similar contexts, but anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When can indignation be used instead of rage?

While in some cases nearly identical to rage, 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 rage?

While the synonyms ire and rage are close in meaning, ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

When is it sensible to use wrath instead of rage?

The synonyms wrath and rage are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 rage
Noun
In the novel, Rusty’s wife Barbara murders his colleague Carolyn Polhemus in a jealous rage after learning Carolyn and Rusty were having an affair. Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 June 2025 That was all the rage back then, and so many of those SPAC deals were busts. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 9 June 2025
Verb
That question is at the center of a debate that continues to rage between the governments of Colombia and Spain. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 June 2025 Clashes still continued into Saturday night, with masked protesters throwing rocks at a police blockade down one street, while small fires raged on the ground. Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rage
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
  • For now, two trends in the market have emerged to keep the rental prices at a stable level: slowed rental demand and a recent construction frenzy.
    Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 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
  • Overall, Chen perceives the chicken and veggie burger craze as one bite out of larger societal shifts.
    Perri Ormont Blumberg, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2025
  • Critics may have scoffed, but the movie, directed by Phil Karlson, was a hit with audiences caught up in the 1970s vigilante-film craze that included Death Wish, Dirty Harry and even Taxi Driver.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Over the past 20 years, multisensory stimulation has been evaluated as a non-pharmacological intervention for people living with dementia and other persons with disabilities.
    Anne Ferguson, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
  • Feline dementia, dental disease, or arthritis can also keep your kitty up at night.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • The victim had just entered the Kings Highway Q train station in Midwood when the stranger, who was walking with a cane, stormed up and started cursing at her about 12:45 p.m. June 12.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025
  • Ukrainian delegates stormed out of the European Youth Event in protest following a speech delivered by Dasha Navalnaya, daughter of the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
    Isabel van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • Some research suggests that steaming kale maximizes glucosinolates.7 Consume kale with some heart-healthy fat like extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil to assist in fat-soluble vitamin absorption.
    Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 11 June 2025
  • It’s smoked duck, steaming in beautiful, pale, hinoki wooden boxes.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 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

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Cite this Entry

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

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