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

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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

His death ignited anger in a small town where tensions between Black residents and the police have boiled over in recent years. — Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Parents gathered outside clinics in Larkana to express their anger. — Betsy Joles, NPR, 2 Sep. 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

Even among the worldliest of us, an unexpected roundabout can trigger a fireworks-and-bald-eagles display of patriotic rage.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Pushing boundaries for new radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceuticals are all the rage in some biotech circles, but some voices of caution are saying slow down.

— Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 31 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

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angels

anger

angered

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“Anger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anger. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of anger

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