ANGER Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

anger 1 of 2

noun

ˈaŋ-gər

Definition of anger

as in rage

an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something managed to stifle his anger when the receptionist put him on hold for the third time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

anger

2 of 2

verb

as in to infuriate

to make angry it's virtually impossible to anger Mrs. Peterson—she's the most easygoing person I've ever known

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

This latest attempt to move, a hopeless punt to have his contract annulled in order to leave on a free sooner, will likely see anger return at Selhurst Park on Friday night against Manchester City. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 It can be diagnosed only after death, although symptoms may include memory loss, impulse control problems, anxiety, depression and anger issues. — Nadia Kounang, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Verb

But the auction process has angered the union representing Spirit’s former flight attendants. — Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Still, in a great credit to their organization, the Kansas City Chiefs stuck by him while others may have immediately cut him to avoid angering the sports media mob. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anger

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anger

Noun

On cue, China expressed indignation about anti-missile deployments.

— Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Mind you, Miss Manners agrees with your indignation at this fraudulent maneuver.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 21 July 2026

Definition of indignation

Verb

The White House’s abrupt decision last week to ease tariffs on 300,000 metric tons — more than 660 million pounds — of foreign beef imports has infuriated American cattle ranchers and congressional Republicans alike.

— Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
The heated rhetoric has infuriated and astonished most Canadians; in a recent poll, seventy-six per cent supported the decision of the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, to walk away from trade talks with Washington.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of infuriate

Noun

After outrage in Hollywood, the studio reversed course and allowed director Dave Green to shop the project around.

— Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
However, the reaction on Capitol Hill — where Coupang has mounted an extensive lobbying effort — has not been universal outrage.

— Justin Papp, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of outrage

Verb

The hiring of the Catalan content creator, however, has only served to enrage the public, rather than enticing them to watch the race.

— Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
The comment at a rally last Sunday titillated, provoked and enraged different audiences simultaneously, all but guaranteeing saturation news coverage and even more attention.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of enrage

Noun

There was something so strong about the image of that smiling, always smiling, country queen who hid her rage and pain behind the sequins, crafting these deeply personal songs.

— Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Whether fighting or fueling it, the rage makes addicts of us all.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of rage

Noun

Despite Erasmus’s wrath, the Renaissance cut-and-pasters were on a roll—for a while.

— Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
There are a couple of shocking narrative twists at the end, with Alice potentially unleashing her wrath, and the revelation of Catherine’s role in Isabel’s death.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrath

Browse Nearby Words

angels

anger

angered

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to anger

Cite this Entry

Style

“Anger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anger. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of anger

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

10 Words for the Angry and Upset

'Muskrat,' 'Helpmate,' and 6 More Folk...

What's 'hangry'?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on anger

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes