wrath
1 Americannoun
-
strong, stern, or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire.
- Synonyms:
- choler, fury, resentment, rage
-
vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger.
adjective
noun
noun
-
angry, violent, or stern indignation
-
divine vengeance or retribution
-
archaic a fit of anger or an act resulting from anger
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- wrathless adjective
Etymology
Origin of wrath
First recorded before 900; (for the noun) Middle English wraththe, Old English wrǣththo, equivalent to wrāth wroth + -tho -th 1; (for the adjective) variant of wroth by association with the noun
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.
Behind the scenes, Beijing has been wary of being seen to openly violate sanctions, which could provoke Washington’s wrath and damage its relations with other Gulf states.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
The Godzilla movies, whether American or Japanese, are metaphors for the ravages of warmongering and the despondence of those powerless to escape its wrath.
From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026
Tax preparers often bear the brunt of a couple’s wrath.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026
Pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine is the latest Museveni critic to face the wrath of the state.
From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026
Pippin trembled, fearing that Gandalf would be stung to sudden wrath, but his fear was needless.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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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.