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rage

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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

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
One time, two girls who were friends came to the rage room together. Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 No country appears willing to try and open the strait by force while fighting rages and Iran can target vessels with anti-ship missiles, drones, attack craft and mines. ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
As the war in Iran rages on, mortgage rates are one casualty. Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026 Here’s hoping Raye keeps that fire raging. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rage
Noun
  • The housing market has cooled considerably since earlier this decade, when rock-bottom mortgage rates set off a frenzy that sent home prices soaring.
    Alex Veiga, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
  • One of the unspoken truths about the Tortuga Music Festival is that while its country-music firepower is undeniable, some of its best moments have come in the frenzy of fans who pack stages for party-rap performers such as Flo Rida, Nelly, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg and Ludacris.
    Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That a website better known for racing to announce celebrity deaths and releasing videos of misbehaving reality stars has turned its eye on DC says something about the anger roiling the nation.
    Elex Michaelson, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Their last few encounters have left Dana on the brink of tears or screaming in anger at herself in the bathroom.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The craze reached its apex in 1916, when Wall Street bettors wagered $10m (about $300m today) on the contest between President Woodrow Wilson and Charles Hughes — who, as governor of New York, had signed an anti-gambling law trying to ban the practice.
    Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Now, thanks to Zendaya fronting its anniversary campaign, the iconic collab is once again fueling a wave of nostalgic craze.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • More than 6 million Americans struggle with dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health.
    Cindy Hsu, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Cesar Sanchez, 76, became an Adult Protective Services client when his daughter called DCF for help and he was admitted to a Kendall hospital for treatment of dementia.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • UConn Huskies stormed back from the dead, erasing a massive deficit before freshman Braylon Mullins buried a 35-foot buzzer-beater to seal a stunning 73–72 win in the Elite Eight.
    Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Fungi aren’t literally storming areas like rain or hail, but storms act as the vehicle while the spores supply the threat.
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As of Tuesday morning, the Audace was steaming past the Bahamas while Total’s gas trading desk fields bids from potential buyers in Europe and Asia.
    Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
  • This all comes as the legal fight over the audit steams ahead, over 15 months after 72% of the state signed off on the ballot measure.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • His shot missed, deflecting glass onto Long Khac Nguyen’s face and setting him off on an immediate rampage, shooting several hostages, three fatally.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Auriemma, at age 41 and in his 10th season at UConn, led a team headlined by All-Americans Rebecca Lobo, Jennifer Rizzotti and Kara Wolters on a 35-0 rampage to secure the first undefeated season and national championship in UConn history.
    Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Surely there was something more beneath all this mild pleasantness, some edge of resentment, a few shards of indignation on the brink of cutting through.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
  • To his astonishment — and culinary indignation — the screen returned an absolute void.
    Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 23 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rage. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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