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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 rage and disbelief, Gi-hun mourned the death of his friend and wailed with grief as masked soldiers apprehended him. Esther Kang, People.com, 26 June 2025 Beyonce rocked the house in New Orleans and reunited with Destiny’s Child on stage, creating all the rage not long before a power outage halted the second half of the Super Bowl. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2025
Verb
And just a few weeks ago, Musk raged over the bot accurately reporting that right-wing violence is more common and has killed more individuals than left-wing terror in recent years. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2025 Disastrous flash floods from a raging central Texas river have killed at least 51 people, including 15 children. Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 6 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rage
Noun
  • Another trait often ascribed to footballers is courage — the kind that enables them to put their head into a frenzy of flying boots, or take a decisive penalty when thousands are willing them to fail.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 6 July 2025
  • That one came down to a late penalty and sent the French crowd into a frenzy.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Though Trump is backing away from Putin in public, he’s never specifically projected anger about the paused weapons for Ukraine.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 July 2025
  • Music and song have changed the world in positive, enduring ways that fear, anger, and violence never have.
    Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • And who could forget the Trader Joe’s mini canvas tote TikTok craze that had shoppers swiping the supermarket’s stock to later DIY with ribbons, embroidery, and Jane Birkin-esque adornments?
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 3 July 2025
  • What started as a playful affirmation craze turned into a global conversation about mindset and the power of expectation.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • My father handled most of the issues but now suffers from dementia, so there are a lot of unknowns.
    Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2025
  • But people with dementia do actually live in the moment.
    Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Is it expected to storm over the weekend in Grand Rapids?
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 11 July 2025
  • Just over 1 kilometer to the west on Hardware Lane – one of the city’s most popular areas for restaurants and nightlife – about 20 protesters stormed into an Israeli restaurant, chanting slogans, police said.
    Angus Watson, CNN Money, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • They’re laid flat on racks, then steamed in the oven.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
  • Acorn squash can be baked, roasted, or steamed for a tasty side dish.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • The Facebook group admins point out that Papa Rodger is similar to the name of a hero in the incel community, Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old who killed seven men and women near the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, in a 2014 rampage that targeted a sorority house.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 11 July 2025
  • Shanes James, the man charged with killing six people in a 2023 shooting rampage that began in Bexar County and ended in Austin, has officially been deemed competent to stand trial.
    Austin American Statesman, Austin American Statesman, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Claiming persecution becomes more believable when it is coupled with the righteous indignation of the wronged.
    Lubna Zeidan, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • Some Trump allies have expressed skepticism — and at times outright indignation — at the idea of the U.S. involved in another conflict in the Middle East, while others have offered wholehearted support.
    Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rage. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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