wrath

1
2

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 Sidelining people who voiced those views aroused righteous wrath. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 Payton spent three weeks that winter grinding tape, as night turned to morning, a group on the fringes trying to avoid anything that would incur Mike Ditka’s wrath. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 18 May 2025 This brings the wrath of Red Sword on their headquarters, with the mercenaries using makeshift drone missiles to bomb the building. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 17 May 2025 No one wants to die in an America of wrath and vengeance. Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wrath
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrath
Noun
  • Law enforcement officials believe the man, Ramon Morales Reyes, never wrote a letter that Noem and her department shared with a message written in light blue ink expressing anger over Trump’s deportations and threatening to shoot him in the head with a rifle at a rally.
    Mike Balsamo, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
  • Law enforcement officials believe the man, Ramon Morales Reyes, never wrote a letter that Noem and her department shared with a message written in light blue ink expressing anger over Trump's deportations and threatening to shoot him in the head with a rifle at a rally.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • The punishment was far less than the maximum six-month sentence sought by the government but more than the probation that Papadopoulos and his lawyers had asked for.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
  • School personnel also would be prohibited from referring truant students to police to be ticketed as punishment.
    Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • As the film progresses, this wide-eyed curiosity shifts to righteous indignation, but these reactions are muddled by her feelings for Basem.
    Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025
  • But there’s vulnerability buried in that sort of indignation.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Liverpool played a full part in the second leg and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was superb during the game as well as in the decisive penalty shootout.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 2 June 2025
  • Soto has been assessed such a penalty in 2019, 2022 and 2023, and narrowly missed getting one in 2024.
    Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • But director Tony Scott makes the most of the racing sequences, up-close bursts of speed and fury that put you right in the thick of the action.
    James Mercadante, EW.com, 20 May 2025
  • In another example, also reported by Newsweek, a post showing a photo of several bags occupying multiple seats at an airport gate sparked fury among netizens.
    Matthew Impelli, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • In addition, a customer usually won’t know how much of the code was written using AI, so there won’t be any public outrage, as is the case with self-driving cars.
    Victor Erukhimov, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • The killing ignited international outrage and massive protests during a pandemic that had already rocked the nation.
    Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • For Karen’s author, such rage was a real departure.
    Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 3 June 2025
  • Conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza rage on, the U.S. national debt grows, and President Donald Trump’s trade policies continue to jolt adversaries and allies alike.
    Hugh Son, CNBC, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • In Los Angeles’ Pico-Robertson neighborhood, the mood was subdued Monday as a smattering of Orthodox families made their way to services to observe Shavuot.
    Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
  • Xabi Alonso’s arrival as coach has really changed the mood at the Bernabeu.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 2 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wrath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrath. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wrath

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!