wrathful

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/ˈræθfəl/
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A formal adjective for intense anger, fury, or a severe punishing mood.

Examples

  • The prophet warned of wrathful judgment.
  • The myth tells of a wrathful spirit guarding the mountain.
  • A wrathful crowd gathered outside the palace.
  • The letter was calm at first, then suddenly wrathful.
  • The sermon used wrathful imagery to describe divine anger.

Similar words

indignant
judgmental
stern
avenging
incensed
vengeful
vengeful
enraged
retributive
angry

Meanings

Full of intense anger

adjective
literary
formal
Full of strong anger, rage, or indignation.

Usage

Use wrathful in formal, literary, or dramatic style. In ordinary speech, angry, furious, or enraged is usually more natural.

Examples

  • His wrathful voice filled the hall.
  • She gave him a wrathful look.
  • The king grew wrathful when he heard the betrayal.
  • A wrathful crowd gathered outside the palace.
  • The letter was calm at first, then suddenly wrathful.

Common mistakes

Wrathful is stronger and more literary than ordinary angry. It does not fit mild annoyance.
IncorrectCorrect
He was wrathful happy. He was wrathful.
Wrathful means mildly annoyed. Wrathful means intensely angry.
She had a wrathful of anger. She had a wrathful expression.
The wrathful was loud. The wrathful crowd was loud.

Similar words

Punishing or divinely angry

adjective
literary
formal
Describing a deity, force, judgment, or image as showing anger, punishment, or severe retribution.

Usage

Use wrathful in religious, mythic, or poetic contexts for a solemn image of anger or punishment.

Examples

  • The poem describes a wrathful god.
  • The prophet warned of wrathful judgment.
  • In the painting, the saint faces a wrathful sky.
  • The myth tells of a wrathful spirit guarding the mountain.
  • The sermon used wrathful imagery to describe divine anger.

Common mistakes

In religious or mythic use, the word describes severe anger, not just a bad mood.
IncorrectCorrect
Wrathful god means friendly god. Wrathful god means a god shown as angry or punishing.
The sermon wrathful about mercy. The sermon used wrathful imagery.
Wrathful is always casual slang. Wrathful is formal or literary.
He wrathful punished them. He punished them wrathfully.

Similar words

Usage

Use the word for strong, often literary anger. For ordinary irritation, choose angry or annoyed.

Common mistakes

Wrathful is not a casual synonym for mad. It sounds serious, literary, and sometimes religious.

Etymology

From wrath, an old English word for intense anger or rage, plus -ful, meaning full of.

FAQ

What does wrathful mean?

It means full of intense anger, rage, or fury.

Is wrathful formal?

Yes. It sounds formal, literary, dramatic, or religious.

How is wrathful different from angry?

Wrathful is stronger and more solemn than ordinary angry.

What is the noun related to wrathful?

The noun is wrath, meaning intense anger or rage.

Can wrathful describe a god?

Yes. It often appears in religious or mythic contexts for divine anger or punishment.

What is an antonym for wrathful?

Antonyms include calm, peaceful, forgiving, merciful, and gentle.

How do you use wrathful in a sentence?

For example: His wrathful voice filled the hall.

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