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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
The Wider Region Friday Morning Unreachable The rain finally lets up by late morning on Sept. 27, but the rivers and creeks rage with so much water flowing down the slopes. Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 19 May 2025 The timing of Bieber’s misbehavior and Diddy’s legal troubles felt serendipitous: Perhaps what Bieber was experiencing was some amalgam of rage or betrayal or sadness. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 May 2025
Verb
Liverpool’s Premier League win has been a source of jubilation in the red half of the city, especially as the club’s previous title — secured a few months after Paul passed away, with the pandemic still raging — was played out to a backdrop of empty stadiums. Simon Hughes, New York Times, 19 May 2025 Kayla Patterson, her husband and their five children huddled in a tub in their basement in London, the county seat, as the tornado raged. CBS News, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rage
Noun
  • The dampened investor mood over AI — relative to the frenzy over the theme in 2024, at least — doesn’t reflect the priorities of companies, which are still spending on AI infrastructure and leveraging the technology to find new revenue streams.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 May 2025
  • Today’s tariff frenzy is not really motivated by a concern for military threats, anyway.
    Ben Bayer, Oc Register, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Down encourages readers to use their righteous anger toward rebuilding a fractured world.
    Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
  • Told in the first person, the story explores a lot of the feelings that Helen experiences: frustration and anger and love for her friend.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • GameStop’s share price has exploded almost 70% since its early April fund raising announcement and is now trading at levels not seen since the tail end of the meme stock craze in 2022.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Milliner believes there is a practical side to the poultry craze as consumers increasingly seek out satisfying and affordable alternatives amid rising beef prices.
    Perri Ormont Blumberg, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Though its symptoms mimic those of dementia, NPH is reversible and can be treated with surgery to implant valves that allow CSF to drain into the chest or abdomen rather than the brain.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • Devon lives with her father (Bill Camp), who is in early stages of dementia and requires considerable looking after.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Opening day attendees who didn't storm the Ministry, however, were treated to shockingly short wait times, park-goers reported.
    Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • That deficit was nothing for the Pacers, though, who immediately stormed back yet again.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • With more fans steaming, says Pitaro, ESPN will offer features that allow users to personalize their content.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 May 2025
  • Don’t forget to take advantage of the signature St. Regis butler service, which will promptly fulfill requests for packing needs, garment pressing, restaurant reservations and a cup of steaming chamomile tea to unwind after a long flight.
    Natasha Amar, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • Aniston, now 56, played a girl trying to stop his murderous rampage after his gold coins were stolen.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • The probes said Byrd acted in self-defense and credited him with helping to protect lawmakers during the chaotic rampage by rioters including Babbitt, who was not armed.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • But there’s vulnerability buried in that sort of indignation.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
  • The feeling was one of indignation at the officiating and at UEFA, European football’s governing body.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 11 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rage. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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