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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

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
Finally, extremely drunk, the young writer explodes in rage, then passes out. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Rucking—or walking while wearing a weighted backpack or vest—is all the rage, with weighted vest sales surging more than 50% to $27 million in the year ending May 2025. — Eliza Thompson, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
In 1994, a raging inferno erupted at a home in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 And as the war rages on some four years later, SpaceX’s terminals are once again making headlines. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rage
Noun
  • Concerns also remain that their prices shot too high following a yearslong frenzy, even though companies in the industry continue to report growth.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Stocks that have benefited from the frenzy over AI have been swinging over rising worries about their path ahead.
    — Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Recently, anger at this collateral damage, heightened by the fish shortage, has evolved into a political movement.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts anger foster care advocates and lawmakers.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • This was in 2024 and 2025, when the AI craze was in full swing and Claude and ChatGPT adoption was rising.
    — Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Here’s how the current sleepmaxxing craze breaks down, which pieces have real science behind them and which ones your wearable data probably won’t vouch for.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Other symptoms include mild dementia that involves short-term memory loss, a lack of interest in daily activities and difficulty completing routine tasks.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • As a final demonstration of this approach’s promise, the researchers designed zinc proteases that could target proteins associated with neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Protests last week devolved into mayhem, with people setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting and clashing with police.
    — ELITSA GADEVA, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Republicans stormed to their first majority in the House (54 seats net) in 40 years and recaptured the Senate with eight new seats there as well.
    — Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani — steamed under a pastry crust and flavored with seasonings blended in India by Adi’s mother.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The best way to preserve the magnesium content in vegetables is to microwave or steam them.
    — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • They were credited with stopping the rampage and saving many people’s lives.
    — Martha Bellisle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • They were credited with stopping the rampage and saving many people's lives.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Like its first season, season two of The Lowdown follows Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon, a freelance journalist and bookstore owner in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a nose for trouble and a hefty dose of quixotic, self-righteous moral indignation.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Along with his signature rapid-fire, garrulous dialogue, Sorkin’s tendency for self-righteous indignation is very much in evidence.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rage. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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