furious
Americanadjective
-
full of fury, violent passion, or rage; extremely angry; enraged.
He was furious about the accident.
-
intensely violent, as wind or storms.
-
of unrestrained energy, speed, etc..
furious activity.
adjective
-
extremely angry or annoyed; raging
-
violent, wild, or unrestrained, as in speed, vigour, energy, etc
Other Word Forms
- furiously adverb
- furiousness noun
Etymology
Origin of furious
First recorded in 1300–50; a Middle English word from the Latin word furiōsus; see fury, -ous
Explanation
If you've ever been so angry you'd swear you felt your blood boiling, you could reasonably say that you were furious. The word basically means "full of fury," so you get the picture. Think about the angriest you've ever been. Now double it and you might be getting close to furious, from the Latin furiōsus, meaning "full of rage," which in turn comes from furia, "fury." Greek and Roman mythology had the Furies, who dispensed justice by harshly punishing criminals, sometimes driving them mad. They were merciless, fearsome, and feared, with snakes for hair and bloody eyes. When not on earth, they were tormenting the damned in Hell. Now, that's furious!
Vocabulary lists containing furious
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Because of Winn-Dixie
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Mad Infinitum: Synonyms for "Angry"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
In 1957, a young Queen Elizabeth was sent to New York to placate a furious President Eisenhower after Britain, along with Israel and France, invaded Egypt without informing the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
Despite a furious bout of calls to government officials, the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeeping troops, permission for the Red Cross to advance didn’t come.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
"It reignites everything so many were furious with him about in the first place," says another.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
Gold, as we know, went on a furious run in 2025, recording its largest annual gain since 1979.
From Barron's • Apr. 18, 2026
It was a furious voice, and it grew louder and more furious with each apoplectic word.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
