fury

[fyoor-ee]

noun

plural

furies 

1. unrestrained or violent anger, rage, passion, or the like.

   The gods unleashed their fury on the offending mortal.

   Synonyms: wrath, ire

2. violence; vehemence; fierceness.

   the fury of a hurricane;

   a fury of creative energy.

   Synonyms: turbulence

3. Classical Mythology.,  Furies, minor female divinities: the daughters of Gaia who punished crimes at the instigation of the victims: known to the Greeks as the Erinyes or Eumenides and to the Romans as the Furiae or Dirae. Originally there were an indefinite number, but were later restricted to Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone.

4. a fierce and violent person, especially a woman.

   She became a fury when she felt she was unjustly accused.

fury

/ ˈfjʊərɪ /

noun

1. violent or uncontrolled anger; wild rage

2. an outburst of such anger

3. uncontrolled violence

   the fury of the storm

4. a person, esp a woman, with a violent temper

5. See Furies

6. informal,  violently; furiously

   they rode like fury

Word History and Origins

Origin of fury¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English furey, furye, from Old French furie, from Latin furia “rage,” equivalent to fur(ere) “to be angry, rage” + -ia, noun suffix; -y ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of fury¹

C14: from Latin furia rage, from furere to be furious

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. like fury, violently; intensely.

   It rained like fury.

see hell has no fury like a woman scorned.

Synonym Study

See anger.

Example Sentences

The heavy-handed reaction of security forces to the protests—jail-cell beatings, drive-by abductions and outright killings—has intensified the protesters’ fury.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Church said her fury and defiance at the situation helped her survive the media scrutiny and coverage, and "kept me protected".

Read more on BBC

That seems like a mild rebuke compared to the fury that gathered outside not long after the final whistle.

Read more on BBC

However, Qatar reacted with fury, saying the strike was a "criminal assault" that constituted a "blatant violation of all international laws and norms".

Read more on BBC

The fiery spectacle sparked fury, as some online suggested it was dangerously irresponsible and could put viewers who might copy the clip at risk.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• acrimony 
• energy 
• ferocity 
• frenzy 
• furor 
• indignation 
• intensity 
• ire 
• madness 
• passion 
• rage 
• storm 
• violence