ireful
Americanadjective
-
full of intense anger; wrathful.
-
easily roused to anger; irascible.
Other Word Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It makes me ireful to think o’ them.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
"Don't be lying there," said the ireful cook.
From The Funny Philosophers Wags and Sweethearts by George Yellott
As she paces to and fro the ugly din fades out of her ears and the ireful red out of her cheeks.
From Doctor Cupid by Rhoda Broughton
"What are you here for?" said Miss, Fortune with an ireful face.
From The Wide, Wide World by Susan Warner
He was flushed and hot and hoarse, but the gleam in his eye was no longer that of offended pride and ireful resolve.
From The Skipper and the Skipped Being the Shore Log of Cap'n Aaron Sproul by Holman Day
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