wrath

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun wrath differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of wrath are anger, fury, indignation, ire, and rage. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge.

I feared her wrath if I was discovered

When can anger be used instead of wrath?

The words anger and wrath are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When would indignation be a good substitute for wrath?

The synonyms indignation and wrath are sometimes interchangeable, but indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

When might ire be a better fit than wrath?

Although the words ire and wrath have much in common, 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 wrath?

Both rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

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 wrath Any officers who don’t return to work Friday will feel the wrath of the state, according to Jackie Bray, commissioner of state Homeland Security. Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025 The film’s first trailer release sparks new backlash, this time around its stars’ political leanings Instead of enthusiasm and anticipation for the movie, Disney’s first official Snow White trailer drop incurred the wrath of fans on either side of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025 The cause of Montgomery's wrath, and of his March 30 date, is the Federal Communications Commission, which set an April 1, 2025, deadline for smaller jails to lower the obscene rates of inmate phone calls. Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025 Problems would only arise when the occasional brazen golfer would stroll into the Burchell’s garden without permission, risking the wrath of a rescue dog wary of strangers. Jack Bantock, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wrath
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrath
Noun
  • During last year’s presidential campaign, a roadside billboard in Miami that drew comparisons between Trump and dictators like Fidel Castro drew anger from supporters of the president.
    David Catanese, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Sleep deprivation hampers your ability to deal with job stress and can unleash anger during your workday.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Trump announced a 10 percent tariff on China in February before doubling it to 20 percent in March as punishment for fentanyl trafficking.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Janine lost her eye as punishment at the Red Center, the training facility for Handmaids.
    Alexandra Hurtado, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Newcastle United fans will be used to the fact that they aren’t allowed to enjoy these occasions before sports journalists’ chin-stroking moral indignation takes hold.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The Baldwins shame him, but their righteous indignation feels insincere considering Baldwin wasn’t using her name in that footage with detectives.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Wild, who killed three penalties, including a 24-second five-on-three, in the final 9:14 of the game, climbed back into the seventh spot in the West.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The Australian government announced plans in December 2024 to strengthen these measures by introducing financial penalties for platforms that fail to reach or renew commercial agreements.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Rather than working himself into a fury with alcohol, Lennon became more demonstrably affectionate and embraced the act of embracing.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The red end credits fit Gemma's shock and fury perfectly.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The National Parks Service has restored the original Harriet Tubman material featured on a webpage about the Underground Railroad after garnering outrage over its removal.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Video of the incident quickly circulated online and sparked outrage, with family members and neighbors questioning why police did not do more to de-escalate the situation or use non-lethal weapons.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Male rage, particularly on display in parts of the manosphere, has been steadily rising.
    Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Also, the trade war rages, and there were mass firings at key scientific agencies.
    Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Longer daylight hours can improve mood and cognitive function.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • But the recent vitriol online may threaten the peaceable mood of the campus, particularly when Steve Glinick moves from Rhode Island to his summer home at Chautauqua, where his daughter, Emily Glinick, lives year-round.
    Christopher Maag, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wrath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrath. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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