First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1wrath
noun \ˈrath, chiefly British ˈrȯth\
: extreme anger
Full Definition of WRATH
1
: strong vengeful anger or indignation
2
: retributory punishment for an offense or a crime : divine chastisement
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Examples of WRATH
- That winter it rained in Los Angeles for three months straight, as if I had brought with me a terrible wrath that somehow agitated the atmosphere, releasing a flood of rain. —Patrick Moore, Tweaked, 2006
- … Reagan raised the bar for every political performer who followed. A president or presidential candidate now had to be smooth or suffer the wrath of the press. —Neal Gabler, Life: The Movie, 1998
- More Wrath than Terror, has seized me. I am very mad. —John Adams, 26 Apr. 1777, in The Book of Abigail and John, 1975
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Origin of WRATH
Middle English, from Old English wrǣththo, from wrāth wroth — more at wroth
Related to WRATH
Synonym Discussion of WRATH
anger, ire, rage, fury, indignation, wrath mean an intense emotional state induced by displeasure. anger, the most general term, names the reaction but by itself does not convey cause or intensity <tried to hide his anger>. ire, more frequent in literary contexts, suggests an intense anger, often with an evident display of feeling <cheeks flushed with ire>. rage and fury suggest loss of self-control from violence of emotion <shook with rage> <could not contain his fury>. indignation stresses righteous anger at what one considers unfair, mean, or shameful <a comment that caused general indignation>. wrath is likely to suggest a desire or intent to punish or get revenge <I feared her wrath if I was discovered>.
2wrath
adjective \ˈrath, chiefly British ˈrȯth\
Definition of WRATH
archaic : wrathful
Examples of WRATH
- … Take heed the Queen come not within his sight; / For Oberon is passing fell and wrath … —William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1596
Origin of WRATH
alteration of wroth
First Known Use: 1535
WRATH Defined for Kids
wrath
noun \ˈrath\
Definition of WRATH for Kids
: violent anger : rage
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