ireful

American  

[ahyuhr-fuhl] / ˈaɪər fəl /

adjective

1. full of intense anger; wrathful.

2. easily roused to anger; irascible.

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Other Word Forms

• irefulness
  noun
• irefully
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of ireful

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at ire, -ful

Explanation

Use the adjective ireful to describe someone who's furious. You'll probably be ireful when you realize that your little brother used your favorite dress shirt as an apron when he baked brownies. The word ireful is an uncommon, old-fashioned way to say "really angry." You may tend to be an ireful driver, yelling and gesturing at other cars, or you might write an ireful letter to the editor of a newspaper after reading a badly reported, inaccurate story. When you're ireful, you're full of ire, which comes from Latin and means "wrath, anger, rage, or passion."

Example Sentences

It makes me ireful to think o’ them.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

With an awful air, Mrs. Pimble folded her arms and looked down upon her husband, who cringed away before her ireful presence, and said, "Susey dropped the waiter."

From Eventide A Series of Tales and Poems by Afton, Effie

He did not give back a step before her ireful figure.

From Counsel for the Defense by Chapman, Charles M.

The lieutenant twisted his derby in chagrined, ireful hands.

From No. 13 Washington Square by Scott, Leroy

Mine ireful mood had sweetness tamed, And soothed each wound which pride inflamed:— Yes, God and man might now approve me If thou hadst lived, and lived to love me!

From The Golden Treasury Of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language by Palgrave, Francis Turner