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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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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 So Spurs were happy to run down the clock, taking their time over every single restart, earning the fury of the home fans and the frustration of the referee. Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 May 2025 Her fury and despair moves Joe into entering the cage to give her the insulin. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025 The optimism from the away end had turned into fury. Nick Miller, New York Times, 3 May 2025 Canadian fury at Trump leads Liberals to victory Mark Carney won the Canadian election to continue his term as prime minister, Canadian and U.S. news outlets reported late Monday night. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fury
Noun
  • The researchers went through hundreds of rodent and shrew carcasses to look for mpox infections and found one: the carcass of a squirrel that had died less than three months before the outbreak started.
    Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
  • While native mammals span from the endemic Cretan lesser white-toothed shrew to the Blasius’s horseshoe bat, the preserve is perhaps best known for its high concentration of Cretan goats, a type of ruminant that serves as the official mascot of the park.
    Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • That frenzy of scoring, together with rapid player movement via free agency and trades, has ushered the NBA into its parity era.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 7 May 2025
  • None of them has experienced the frenzy that is the Derby crowd.
    Teresa Genaro, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • The city councilor and over two dozen residents responded to Eureka Street after the presence of federal agents in the neighborhood sparked anger Thursday morning.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
  • Tangent Posts made by the X account named after Prevost triggered anger among some of the president’s most vocal supporters online.
    Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Authorities in North Carolina on April 28 were investigating a shooting rampage on the campus of Elizabeth City State University that left one person dead and six injured.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The change in position underscores the hardened perspective toward the agency under the Trump administration following allegations by Israel that some of the agency staff was involved in the Hamas rampage.
    Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But there’s vulnerability buried in that sort of indignation.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
  • The feeling was one of indignation at the officiating and at UEFA, European football’s governing body.
    Pol Ballús, New York Times, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • Prosecutors say Read, 45, deliberately hit O’Keefe, 46, with her Lexus SUV in a drunken rage and left him for dead in January 2022.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • So there’s a lot of rage from that, and rightfully so.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Willkie Farr & Gallagher last week became the latest law firm to strike a deal with the White House and escape President Trump’s wrath.
    Ben Protess, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • And Augusta National Golf Club did not escape the storm’s wrath.
    Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The abuses have sparked outrage and fear among South Sudanese nationals and marginalized groups in Khartoum, seen as having ties to RSF, who have recruited mercenaries from South Sudan.
    Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 16 May 2025
  • That move has sparked outrage as well as security and ethical concerns from both Republicans and Democrats. 2.
    Jade Walker, CNN Money, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fury. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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