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ire

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun ire differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ire are anger, fury, indignation, rage, and wrath. While all these words mean "an intense emotional state induced by displeasure," ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling.

cheeks flushed with ire

In what contexts can anger take the place of ire?

While the synonyms anger and ire are close in meaning, anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity.

tried to hide his anger

When is it sensible to use indignation instead of ire?

In some situations, the words indignation and ire are roughly equivalent. However, indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful.

a comment that caused general indignation

How are the words rage and fury related as synonyms of ire?

Both rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion.

shook with rage
could not contain his fury

Where would wrath be a reasonable alternative to ire?

While in some cases nearly identical to ire, 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 ire
Noun
Several of those pictures were of a topless Ventura, which drew Comey's ire. Nbc News, NBC news, 22 May 2025 Yet nobody seems to draw as much ire or praise these days as Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso. Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 22 May 2025 But hiking prices because of tariffs risks drawing Trump’s ire — something at least one other tech company has already learned the hard way. Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 14 May 2025 Source: Club financial statements With debt comes the cost of servicing it and, in truth, the locus of United fans’ ire all those years ago. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ire
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
Verb
  • The move, which the governor said was necessary to increase collaboration and mentorship among civil servants, angered state workers and the labor groups representing them.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
  • Additionally, reports had indicated that President Xi was angered over the transaction since Hutchison did not ask for approval of the deal in advance.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Does that mean the nine California Republicans, all of whom voted last month for the tax and spending bill, could face his political wrath?
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
  • More to Read Voices Contributor: Once, international students feared Beijing’s wrath.
    Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • The Democrats’ response to the frenzy of executive actions has infuriated the party’s liberal base, which loudly accused Democratic leaders of failing to push back against an aggressive White House in ways that meet the urgency of the moment.
    Mike Lillis, The Hill, 1 June 2025
  • Navigating through these help desk mazes can be infuriating and time consuming.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 30 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
Verb
  • Summer schedules since have been filled with other shows like Big Brother, Love Island USA, and various iterations of The Bachelor franchise keeping viewers entertained and/or enraged ever since.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 31 May 2025
  • Market volatility has enraged Democrats and worried many Republicans as the country experiences whiplash from tariff announcements, leaving many people worried about their finances.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 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
  • Three years earlier, the boy wonder, then 23, had designed the world’s first hydrogen bomb, which brought the fury of the stars to Earth.
    William J. Broad, New York Times, 19 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

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Cite this Entry

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

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