anger
Americannoun
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anger
plural
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a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong; wrath; ire.
- Synonyms:
- spleen, bile, choler, exasperation, resentment
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Chiefly British Dialect. pain or smart, as of a sore.
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Obsolete. grief; trouble.
verb (used with object)
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angers,
present (3rd person singular)
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angered,
past participle, past
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angering
present participle
verb (used without object)
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angers,
present (3rd person singular)
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angered,
past participle, past
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angering
present participle
noun
verb
Usage
What does anger mean? Anger is a human emotion that involves intense displeasure and aggression as a response to an aggravating event, as in My mother was filled with anger after she found out that I had snuck out to the party. The word anger is also used to mean to make someone feel anger or to begin to feel anger oneself, as in That grouchy old man next door angers easily. Anger also refers to making someone else feel anger, as in The disrespect shown by the new recruit angered the drill instructor. Anger is a strong human emotion, and you’ve likely experienced anger in your own life. If you have ever felt your heart pumping strongly and wanted to scream or punch a wall, you’ve felt anger. You might feel anger when someone insults you, takes something from you, hurts one of your loved ones, or does something that you really don’t like. Feeling anger is completely normal, although how you respond to anger can make a big difference. Angry is used to describe feeling anger, as in I try to avoid angry dogs. Example: The silly jester was an expert at calming the king’s anger.
Synonym Usage
Anger, fury, indignation, rage imply deep and strong feelings aroused by injury, injustice, wrong, etc. Anger is the general term for a sudden violent displeasure: a burst of anger. Indignation implies deep and justified anger: indignation at cruelty or against corruption. Rage is vehement anger: rage at being frustrated. Fury is rage so great that it resembles insanity: the fury of an outraged lover.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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angersimple
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angerssimple
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have angeredperfect
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has angeredperfect
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am angeringprogressive
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are angeringprogressive
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is angeringprogressive
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have been angeringperfect progressive
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has been angeringperfect progressive
Past
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angeredsimple
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had angeredperfect
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was angeringprogressive
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were angeringprogressive
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had been angeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of anger
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse angr “sorrow, grief,” akin to Old High German angust ( German Angst “fear”), Latin angor “anguish”
Explanation
If you’re mad about something and you’re not going to take it anymore, you’re feeling anger, a strong emotion you experience when you think someone has done you wrong. If you want to scream and kick, you’re feeling anger. Anger is a powerful emotion that people feel from time to time when someone or something frustrates or annoys them. One of the roots of anger is the Greek word ankhone for "a strangling," which is a perfect description of the way anger actually feels. Indeed, anger can make you feel like strangling someone. Don’t do it! If you’re feeling a lot of anger, it’s good to take a nice, deep breath.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Media observers say the public anger reflected years of eroding confidence.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
“Like the anger disturbs my body so much that it makes me cry. No matter how much I tried to unplug from Carol, my body didn’t understand that I was pretending.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
Journalists covering last month's youth-led protests in India became targets of public anger and attacks over their perceived support for the government, exposing a deepening crisis of trust in traditional broadcasters.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
But Lissie Harper said that she was "beyond appalled and bristling with anger to hear that Andrew's killers are soon to be free to roam the streets".
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
I closed my eyes, expecting to feel a surge of anger.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Perhaps what angers him most is that officers may never know the scale of what went on at Save A Paw.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
“Seems simple, but that’s not always the case. He can be direct, and that sometimes angers a player, but it’s always well thought out and usually right.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2025
His videos and speeches speak directly to young adults, and that’s what angers Amanda the most.
From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2025
Sherrilyn Ifill: It angers me, obviously, but I also often get a chuckle out of it.
From Slate ● Jan. 6, 2025
It angers him, and it steels his determination to push northward.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
Southwest Airlines is in the middle of major makeover that has angered some of its most loyal fans.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
At that meeting Merz may have to face the music from lawmakers angered by the way he conducted the reshuffle, including the botched sacking of transport minister Patrick Schnieder.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
But the bill angered unions, activists and Park, who say the challenge goes beyond Coupang.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The corporate campaign has angered wildfire survivors, including some of the thousands of families in Altadena who lost their homes in last year’s Eaton fire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
It angered Cole when people pretended they did.
From "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen
Its notice was later withdrawn after angering US politicians, who were concerned it would affect their own citizen's data.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Every time the narrative comes close to truly condemning children’s access to devices, the movie pulls back in fear of isolating or angering the audience.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
But Schnur said the governor likely also has concerns about angering one of his biggest backers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2026
The bishops, often nervous about angering the public at a time when church attendance continues its steady decline, have to think carefully about whether to challenge these celebrity priests.
From Slate ● Jun. 8, 2026
And although he always refused to discuss secret matters, even his refusals could attract attention, further angering the NSA.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
