These words denote, in varying degrees, feelings of strong displeasure or antagonism directed against the causes of an assumed wrong or injury. Anger , the most general word of this group, provides no clue as to the direction of this feeling or its means of expression. One may feel anger at an unfortunate turn of events, at oneself or at another person. Rage often implies a loss of self-control, and fury , the strongest word in the group, suggests a rage so violent that it may approach madness.

• The surly insolence of the waiters drove him into a rage , and he flung his serviette to the floor and stalked out of the restaurant; They fury of a woman scorned, according to Congreve, is unmatched in hell; Mad with fury , he pounded his fists on the wall and beat his breast.

Indignation denotes anger based on a moral condemnation of something felt to be disgraceful or ignoble: Abolitionists viewed the institution of slavery with indignation . Wrath , now limited in use to literature and figures of speech, suggests a strong anger directed at some specific person or thing. The source of wrath is always impressive, sometimes divine; hence it traditionally inspires awe and fear: the wrath of the gods. Ire , meaning anger or indignation, is no longer encountered except in poetry and period literature: His ire was strongly provoked by the discourtesy of the host in failing to address him by his proper title.

ANTONYSM: amiability, calmness, clemency, docility, forbearance, gentleness, leniency, placidity, tranquillity.