FURY Synonyms: 172 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'fury' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fury are anger , indignation , ire , rage , 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

Q: When might 'anger' be a better fit than 'fury'?

The synonyms anger and fury are sometimes interchangeable, but anger , the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity. // tried to hide his anger

Q: In what contexts can 'indignation' take the place of 'fury'?

The words indignation and fury are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful. // a comment that caused general indignation

Q: When is it sensible to use 'ire' instead of 'fury'?

The meanings of ire and fury 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: When would 'wrath' be a good substitute for 'fury'?

In some situations, the words wrath and fury are roughly equivalent. However, wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge. // I feared her wrath if I was discovered

fury

noun

ˈfyu̇r-ē

Definition of fury

as in shrew

a bad-tempered scolding woman tradition has it that Socrates' wife was such a fury that the philosopher's death sentence by the authorities was not an entirely unwelcome fate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in frenzy

a state of wildly excited activity or emotion the sudden appearance of the rock star whipped the crowd of onlookers into a fury of excitement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in anger

an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something in his fury, the duped gambler overturned the card table and declared that the game had been fixed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun fury differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fury are anger, indignation, ire, rage, 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

When might anger be a better fit than fury?

The synonyms anger and fury are sometimes interchangeable, but anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

In what contexts can indignation take the place of fury?

The words indignation and fury are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

When is it sensible to use ire instead of fury?

The meanings of ire and fury largely overlap; however, ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

When would wrath be a good substitute for fury?

In some situations, the words wrath and fury are roughly equivalent. However, 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 fury This flood of emotions must have ranged from relief to euphoria to mind-splitting fury. — Anne Haley, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Daemon narrowly avoids death by dragon as Silverwing's fury brings down nearby stone structures, leaving him nearly senseless. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 Cracking open the throttle with the top down delivers peak Ferrari Experience, with the V6 screaming with fury only very briefly interrupted by the loud pops of the upshifts. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 6 Aug. 2026 Her laments are now laced with fury, as genocidal wars and murderous technologies join global warming in the twenty-first century’s third decade. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fury

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fury

Noun

These are important tools used for both feeding and building their dens and digging for other menu items such as mice, gophers, voles and shrews.

— Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
See page 8 to order a shrew for $29, plus shipping and handling.

— Jeff Wilson, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026

Definition of shrew

Noun

The effort thrust Kansas City into a nationwide mid-decade redistricting frenzy amid a bitter fight for seats in Congress.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026
The Bank of America pledge isn’t limited to the AI frenzy, focusing on sectors such as transportation and water systems as well.

— Bloomberg, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of frenzy

Noun

Through the help of new and old audio tapes and Manson family members, Berlinger argues that the murderous rampage began with a botched drug deal by a man named Bobby Beausoleil.

— Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
The rampage caused more property damage, additional crashes between other vehicles and ultimately injuries to three people who were treated at a hospital.

— Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of rampage

Noun

In 2024, the artist added a fifth video, Keening, addressing collective mourning and rage after October 7, 2023, in which Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took 240 more hostage.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Furious at seeing piles of dead bodies, Wolverine unlocks a rage ability where his devastating attacks do even more damage.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of rage

Noun

Domestic grievances and outrage over Gaza make for a potent mix, and a wave of protest comparable to the uprisings of 15 years ago could again be on the horizon.

— MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Within weeks of Porter’s death, ICE agents gunned down Renee Good and Alex Pretti in confrontations in Minneapolis, with both slayings drawing national outrage.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of outrage

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furtiveness

fury

fuse

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“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of fury

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