wrath

W4R1A1T1H4
UK/ɹɒθ/UK/ɹɔːθ/UK/ɹɑːθ/British, Southern, Standard/ɹɔθ/

noun

Great anger; (countable) an instance of this.

“the wrath of God”

Similar
furyirebilecholerdanderdispleasuredudgeongall
OriginMiddle English wratthe ← Old English wrǣþþu ← Proto-West Germanic *wraiþiþu →
Less commonScrabble 11
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

wrath1

nounwrath (usually uncountable, plural wraths)

plural wraths

  1. formaluncountableusuallyGreat anger; (countable) an instance of this.

    Homer relates an episode in the Trojan War that reveals the tragic consequences of the wrath of Achilles.

    5 more examples

    Let all bitternes, fearſnes and wrath, rorynge and curſyd ſpeakynge, be put awaye from you, with all maliciouſnes.

    1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Ephesians iiij:[31], folios cclvij, recto – cclvij, verso

    Thou barrein ground, whome winters wrath hath waſted, Art made a myrrhour, to behold my plight: […]

    1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “Ianuarye. Ægloga Prima.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […], →OCLC, folio 1, verso

    I tel you true my hart is ſwolne with wrath, On this ſame theeuiſh villain Tamburlain.

    c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii, signature B2, verso

    [H]im ſo far had borne his light-foot ſteede, Pricked vvith vvrath and fiery fierce diſdaine, That him to follovv vvas but fruitleſſe paine; […]

    1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 8, page 21

    VVho (in my vvrath) Kneel'd and^([sic – meaning at]) my feet, and bid me be aduis'd?

    c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 183, column 1

    Synonyms: fury, ire, bile, choler, dander, displeasure, dudgeon, fury

  2. uncountableusuallyPunishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; (countable) an instance of this.

    the wrath of God

    5 more examples

    […] I [i.e., God] gaue the [thee] a kinge in my wrath, and in my diſpleaſure will I take him from the agayne.

    1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Eseas [Hosea] xiij:[11], folio lxxxvi, verso, column 1

    [H]e is the miniſter of God, a reuenger to execute wrath vpon him that doeth euill.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 13:4, column 2

    And though not mortall, yet a cold ſhuddring devv Dips me all o'e[r], as vvhen the vvrath of Iove Speaks thunder, and the chaines of Erebus To ſome of Saturns crevv.

    Comus

    1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey Robinson, […], published 1637, →OCLC; reprinted as Comus: […] (Dodd, Mead & Company’s Facsimile Reprints of Rare Books; Literature Series; no. I), New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903, →OCLC, page 27

    He to appeaſe thy wrauth, and end the ſtrife Of Mercy and Juſtice in thy face diſcern'd, Regardleſs of the Bliſs wherein hee ſat Second to thee, offerd himſelf to die For mans offence.

    1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 406–410

    [T]he vvrath of God cometh upon the children of diſobedience.

    1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, page 188
  3. obsoleteuncountableusuallyGreat ardour or passion.

    [T]hey are in the verie vvrath of loue, and they vvill together. Clubbes cannot part them.

    c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 194, column 2
    1 more example

    [I]f you hold your life at any price, betake you to your gard: for your oppoſite hath in him vvhat youth, ſtrength, skill, and vvrath, can furniſh man vvithall.

    c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 269, column 1
verbwrath (third-person singular simple present wraths, present participle wrathing, simple past and past participle wrathed)

present singular third person wraths · participle present wrathing · participle past wrathed · past wrathed · first person past singular wrathed · archaic present second person singular wrathest · past second person singular wrathed · archaic past second person singular wrathedst · present singular third person wraths · archaic present singular third person wratheth · past singular third person wrathed · past plural wrathed · past subjunctive wrathed · participle present wrathing · participle past wrathed

  1. EarlyModernobsoletetransitiveTo anger (someone); to enrage.

    [R]emembre howe by thy cursed synnes thou haste offended and wrathed thy lorde god.

    [1506?], Jacobus van Gruitroede, translated by [Margaret Beaufort], The Mirroure of Golde for the Synfull Soule, London: […] Richarde Pynson, →OCLC, folio 12, verso
    2 more examples

    Of ire yͤ whiche is agayne god. […] A man wratheth hym ayenst god for many thynges, pryncypally for the flagellacions, aduersytees, fortunes, sykenesses, & mortalytees, losses, punycyons, famyne, warre & yll tyme.

    1510 September 24 (Gregorian calendar), [Andrew Chertsey], transl., Ihesus. The Floure of the Commaundements of God […], London: […] Wynkyn de Worde, →OCLC, folio 60, recto

    And than the byſſhop ſayd vnto the clerke⸝ thou haſt wrathed me⸝ but yf thou wylte be ſory thou ſhalte haue my loue as thou haddeſt before⸝ & I ſhall gyue the [i.e., thee] the benefyce yͭ I haue promyſed to gyue the⸝ ſholde not he be anone ſory of that I byleue that yes.

    1520, Saynt Peter of Lucẽbourth [i.e., Pierre de Luxembourg], anonymous translator, The Boke Entytuled the Next Way to Heuen […], London: […] Wynkyn de Worde, →OCLC, folio [4], recto
  2. EarlyModernobsoletetransitiveTo become angry with (someone).
  3. EarlyModernintransitiveobsoleteTo become angry.

    God is a righteous judge, strong and patient, and God wratheth every day.

    1860, E[dward] B[ouverie] Pusey, “Nahum”, in The Minor Prophets with a Commentary Explanatory and Practical and Introductions to the Several Books (The Holy Bible with a Commentary […]), Oxford, Oxfordshire: J. H. & J. Parker, […], →OCLC, page 374, column 2
    1 more example

    "Nay, wrath thee not, Will," said Ganlesse; "and speak no words in haste, lest you may have cause to repent at leisure.[…]"

    1822, [Walter Scott], chapter X, in Peveril of the Peak. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 267

wrath2

adjectivewrath (comparative more wrath, superlative most wrath)

comparative more wrath · superlative most wrath

  1. EarlyModernarchaicobsoleteSynonym of wroth (“full of anger; wrathful”).

    Lovel, seldom angry, was violently wrath with his brother-in-law; and, almost always polite, was at breakfast scarcely civil to Lady Baker.

    1860 January–June, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, “A Black Sheep”, in Lovel the Widower, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1861, →OCLC, page 165
    5 more examples

    Take heede the Queene come not vvithin his ſight, For Oberon is paſſing fell and vvrath: Becauſe that ſhe, as her attendant, hath A louely boy ſtollen, from an Indian king: She neuer had ſo ſvveete a changeling.

    c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, A Midsommer Nights Dreame. […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, […], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], signature B3, recto

    VVhereat the Prince full vvrath, his ſtrong right hand In full auengement heaued vp on hie, And ſtroke the Pagan vvith his ſteely brand So ſore, that to his ſaddle bovv thereby He bovved lovv, and ſo a vvhile did lie: […]

    1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 43, page 120

    And Pharao being a vvrath againſt them (for the one vvas chiefe of the cupbearers, the other chiefe baker) he ſent them into the priſon of the captaine of the ſouldiers, in the vvhich Ioſeph alſo vvas priſoner.

    1609, The Holie Bible, […] (Douay–Rheims Bible), Doway: Laurence Kellam, […], →OCLC, Genesis 40:2–3, pages 122–123

    Th' old Dragon underground In ſtraiter limits bound, Not half ſo far caſts his uſurped ſvvay, And vvrath to ſee his Kingdom fail, Svvindges the ſcaly Horrour of his foulded tail.

    1629, John Milton, “On the Morning of Christs Nativity”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, page 9

    I felt wrath with her. My heart so cherished my harmless, defenceless Lilian, that I was jealous of the praise taken from her to be bestowed on another.

    1861 September 28 – 1862 March 8, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter XXXI, in A Strange Story. […], volume II, London: Sampson Low, Son, & Co., […], published 1862, →OCLC, page 229

    Synonyms: wroth

Synonyms & antonyms

nounGreat anger; (countable) an instance of this.

Similar
furyirebilecholerdanderdispleasuredudgeonfurygallgrudgeindignationireragered mistresentmentspleenvexationwoodness

adjectiveSynonym of wroth (“full of anger; wrathful”).

Similar
wroth

More synonyms by meaning

nounbelligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong (personified as one of the deadly sins)

Similar
angerireira
Broader
mortal sindeadly sin
Also see
angercholerirairewrathfulwroth

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

wrath · noun, verb

  1. Middle Englishwratthen“to be or become angry, to rage; to quarrel; to cause wrath, offend; to become troubled or vexed; to cause grief or harm, grieve, vex”
  2. Proto-Indo-European*wreyt-“to twist”
  3. Proto-Germanic*wraiþaz“angry, furious, wroth; hostile, violent; bent, twisted”
  4. Proto-West Germanic*wraiþiþu“anger, fury, wrath”
  5. Old Englishwrǣþþu“ire, wrath”
  6. Middle Englishwratthe“anger, hostility, distress retribution”
  7. Englishwrath

The noun is derived from Middle English wratthe (“anger, hostility, distress retribution”) [and other forms], from Old English wrǣþþu (“ire, wrath”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *wraiþiþu (“anger, fury, wrath”), from *wraiþ (“angry, furious, wroth; hostile, violent; bent, twisted”) (from Proto-Germanic *wraiþaz (“angry, furious, wroth; hostile, violent; bent, twisted”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist”)) + *-iþu (suffix forming abstract nouns). Effectively analysable as wroth + -th (abstract nominal suffix); compare Dutch wreedte. The verb is derived from Middle English wratthen (“to be or become angry, to rage; to quarrel; to cause wrath, offend; to become troubled or vexed; to cause grief or harm, grieve, vex”) [and other forms], from wratthe, wretthe (noun) (see above) + -en (suffix forming the infinitive of verbs).

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

wrath · adjective

A variant of wroth, probably influenced by wrath (noun) (see etymology 1).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek μηνιθμός, θυμός
  • μηνιθμός (mēnithmós)great anger; an instance of this
  • θυμός (thumós)great anger; an instance of this
Arabic غَضَب, غَيْظ
  • غَضَب (ḡaḍab)great anger; an instance of this
  • غَيْظ (ḡayẓ)great anger; an instance of this
  • قَهْر (qahr)great anger; an instance of this
  • سَخَط (saḵaṭ)great anger; an instance of this
Bulgarian гняв, възме́здие
  • гняв (gnjav)great anger; an instance of this
  • възме́здие (văzmézdie)punishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
Chinese Mandarin 憤怒 /愤怒
  • 憤怒 /愤怒 (fènnù)great anger; an instance of this
Czech hněv, zloba
  • hněvgreat anger; an instance of this
  • zlobagreat anger; an instance of this
  • zlostgreat anger; an instance of this
Danish vrede
  • vredegreat anger; an instance of this
Dutch gramschap, toorn
  • gramschapgreat anger; an instance of this
  • toorngreat anger; an instance of this
  • woedegreat anger; an instance of this
Estonian raev, viha
  • raevgreat anger; an instance of this
  • vihagreat anger; an instance of this
Finnish raivo, viha
  • raivogreat anger; an instance of this
  • vihagreat anger; an instance of this
  • rangaistuspunishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
  • vihapunishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
French colère, courroux
  • colèregreat anger; an instance of this
  • courrouxgreat anger; an instance of this
  • fureurgreat anger; an instance of this
  • iregreat anger; an instance of this
  • courrouxpunishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
German Ärger, Ingrimm
  • Ärgergreat anger; an instance of this
  • Ingrimmgreat anger; an instance of this
  • Wutgreat anger; an instance of this
  • Zorngreat anger; an instance of this
  • Vergeltungpunishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
Greek οργή, θυμός
  • οργή (orgí)great anger; an instance of this
  • θυμός (thymós)great anger; an instance of this
Hebrew כַּעַס, זַעַם
  • כַּעַס (ká'as)great anger; an instance of this
  • זַעַם (zá'am)great anger; an instance of this
Hindi प्रकोप, ग़ज़ब
  • प्रकोप (prakop)great anger; an instance of this
  • ग़ज़ब (ġazab)great anger; an instance of this
  • ग़ुस्सा (ġussā)great anger; an instance of this
  • क्रोध (krodh)great anger; an instance of this
  • क़हर (qahar)great anger; an instance of this
  • रोष (roṣ)great anger; an instance of this
  • तैश (taiś)great anger; an instance of this
  • प्रकोप (prakop)punishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
Hungarian düh, harag
  • dühgreat anger; an instance of this
  • haraggreat anger; an instance of this
Icelandic heift, reiði
  • heiftgreat anger; an instance of this
  • reiðigreat anger; an instance of this
Indonesian murka
  • murkagreat anger; an instance of this
Italian collera, furore
  • colleragreat anger; an instance of this
  • furoregreat anger; an instance of this
  • iragreat anger; an instance of this
Japanese 憤怒, 激怒
  • 憤怒 (funnu)great anger; an instance of this
  • 激怒 (gekido)great anger; an instance of this
Korean 분노, 격노
  • 분노 (bunno)great anger; an instance of this
  • 격노 (gyeongno)great anger; an instance of this
  • 성 (seong)great anger; an instance of this
Latin īra
  • īragreat anger; an instance of this
Latvian dusmas, bargums
  • dusmasgreat anger; an instance of this
  • bargumsgreat anger; an instance of this
  • ļaunprātībagreat anger; an instance of this
  • atriebībapunishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
Lithuanian pyktis, rūstis
  • pyktisgreat anger; an instance of this
  • rūstisgreat anger; an instance of this
  • rūstybėgreat anger; an instance of this
  • kerštaspunishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
Malay kemarahan, kemurkaan
  • kemarahangreat anger; an instance of this
  • kemurkaangreat anger; an instance of this
Māori ngana, nguha
  • nganagreat anger; an instance of this
  • nguhagreat anger; an instance of this
Norwegian Bokmål sinne, vrede
  • sinnegreat anger; an instance of this
  • vredegreat anger; an instance of this
Persian غضب, غیظ
  • غضب (ġazab)great anger; an instance of this
  • غیظ (ġeyz)great anger; an instance of this
  • قهر (qahr)great anger; an instance of this
  • طیش (teyš)great anger; an instance of this
  • وروت (vorut)great anger; an instance of this
  • خشم (xašm)great anger; an instance of this
Polish gniew, złość
  • gniewgreat anger; an instance of this
  • złośćgreat anger; an instance of this
Portuguese cólera, ira
  • cóleragreat anger; an instance of this
  • iragreat anger; an instance of this
  • fúriagreat anger; an instance of this
Romanian furie, mânie
  • furiegreat anger; an instance of this
  • mâniegreat anger; an instance of this
  • urgiegreat anger; an instance of this
  • răzbunarepunishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
Russian гнев, зло́ба
  • гнев (gnev)great anger; an instance of this
  • зло́ба (zlóba)great anger; an instance of this
  • злость (zlostʹ)great anger; an instance of this
  • возме́здие (vozmézdije)punishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
Scottish Gaelic corraich
  • corraichgreat anger; an instance of this
Slovak hnev, zlosť
  • hnevgreat anger; an instance of this
  • zlosťgreat anger; an instance of this
Spanish cólera, furia
  • cóleragreat anger; an instance of this
  • furiagreat anger; an instance of this
  • iragreat anger; an instance of this
  • castigopunishment, retribution, or vengeance resulting from anger; an instance of this.
Swahili ghadhabu
  • ghadhabugreat anger; an instance of this
Swedish vrede
  • vredegreat anger; an instance of this
Thai ความโกรธ, ความโกรธเคือง
  • ความโกรธ (kwaam-gròot)great anger; an instance of this
  • ความโกรธเคือง (kwaam-gròot-kʉʉang)great anger; an instance of this
  • โทสะ (too-sà)great anger; an instance of this
  • วิโรธ (wí-rôot)great anger; an instance of this
Turkish gazap, hiddet
  • gazapgreat anger; an instance of this
  • hiddetgreat anger; an instance of this
Ukrainian гнів, злість
  • гнів (hniv)great anger; an instance of this
  • злість (zlistʹ)great anger; an instance of this
Urdu غَیظ, غَضَب
  • غَیظ (ġaiz)great anger; an instance of this
  • غَضَب (ġazab)great anger; an instance of this
  • قَہْر (qahr)great anger; an instance of this
  • طَیش (taiś)great anger; an instance of this
  • خَشْم (xaśm)great anger; an instance of this
Vietnamese cơn tức giận, thịnh nộ
  • cơn tức giậngreat anger; an instance of this
  • thịnh nộgreat anger; an instance of this
Welsh dig, llid
  • diggreat anger; an instance of this
  • llidgreat anger; an instance of this
Yiddish צאָרן
  • צאָרן (tsorn)great anger; an instance of this

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with wrath

pathbathmathclothgothmothbrothcathslothswathKathfrothlathwrothstrathwathtrothbetrothapple mothbrathElnathPicasso mothpressing clothsea moth
All rhymes →

Sounds the same

wrothRoth (some speakers)wrothRoth (some speakers)wrothRoth (some speakers)

Anagrams

warth
Cite this entry
APA

wrath. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wrath

MLA

“wrath.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wrath. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “wrath,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/wrath.

Source: wrath on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.