I. ˈaŋgə(r), ˈaiŋ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, affliction, anger, from Old Norse angr grief, sorrow; akin to Old English enge narrow, Old High German engi, Old Norse öngr, Gothic angwus, Latin angor strangling, anguish, angere to strangle, distress, Greek anchein to strangle, Sanskrit aṁhas anxiety
1. now dialect England : inflammation especially of a wound or sore
2. : a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism
an outburst of
3. : a cause or manifestation of anger
or if thy mistress some rich anger shows — John Keats
4. : something resembling the state, appearance, or behavior of an angry person
the anger of sea and sky
the monstrous anger of the guns — Wilfred Owen
Synonyms:
ire , rage , fury , indignation , wrath : anger is the most general of these terms, merely indicating the emotional reaction of extreme displeasure and suggesting no definite degree of intensity
boys and girls come to the hospitals full of fear and, sometimes, anger — J.N.Bell
his angers, his personal spites reached metaphysical proportions — Lionel Abel
ire is literary, usually suggesting a somewhat greater emotional turmoil than anger
it turns the people's ire from local abuses — Stanley Ross
undismayed by the dark flush of ire he kindled — George Meredith
concealed his resentful ire — Jane Austen
rage usually adds to anger the idea of loss of control, of usually strong outward display presumably reflecting an intense inner frustration, revengefulness, or temporary derangement
his curses of rage and frustration tore the air and made the soldiers cringe — Allen Churchill
hurled themselves at the spot, jaws snapping, trembling with violent rage — William Beebe
fury usually indicates extreme overmastering rage; sometimes it applies to a violent and indignant anger kept barely under control
the fury and devastation of World War II — Lamp
phrases could move crowds to fury or pity — Arnold Bennett
his anger deepened into fury — Agnes Repplier
to watch in a cold fury
indignation implies anger of no specified intensity or outward display but provoked by what one considers mean, shameful, unworthy, or outrageous
the crime of aggression arouses their moral indignation — A.O.Wolfers
the colonies were aflame with indignation — H.E.Scudder
wrath may imply either rage or indignation, usually also implying a grievance and a desire to revenge or punish in return
violent outbursts of wrath and summary chastisements do occur — Margaret Mead
in wrath he had a widening glower that enveloped the offender — yet his eye seemed to stab — a flash shot from its center to transfix and pierce — G.D.Brown
the wrath of God
II. verb
( angered ; angered ; angering -g(ə)riŋ ; angers )
Etymology: Middle English angren to distress, anger, from Old Norse angra, from angr
transitive verb
1. : to excite to anger : make angry
her helplessness angered her — Robert Grant †1940
2. chiefly dialect : to cause to smart : inflame
the continued exertion angered his wound
intransitive verb
: to become angry
a man who angers easily