adjective
-
incensed with anger; furious
-
marked by extreme anger
an irate letter
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of irate
First recorded in 1830–40; from Latin īrātus, past participle of īrāscī “to be angry, get angry”; see irascible, -ate 1
Explanation
On the anger scale, first comes annoyed, then vexed, then irate. When cartoon characters are irate, they're so mad that smoke comes out of their ears. The first syllable of irate is ir for ire, related to the Greek word oistros which means "thing causing madness." An irate investor might sell all his or her stock in a company. Let's hope you thanked your aunt for the birthday check — otherwise you might get an irate phone call from her. When your mother is irate, you'd best get out of the way, and get busy cleaning your room.
Vocabulary lists containing irate
ASVAB Word Knowledge
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 5
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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 a poll released earlier this summer, the Brennan Center found voters are increasingly irate over corruption in government.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
Torres bounced around three locations over the next four days with his father, girlfriend, three parakeets, a dog and a turtle named Squirt while fielding calls from irate and scared residents.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
"Let me say this plainly: this is not a golden calf," he said later that night on X, referring to the Old Testament idol that famously made Moses irate after he received the Commandments.
From Barron's ● May 8, 2026
Mr. Scorsese, who was also married, became positively irate about Ms. Minnelli’s faithlessness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026
Then came another letter, this one to school officials from an irate fan who ripped into her for standing up too much during games and blocking his view.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
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.
